Patrick Reilly

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other people named Patrick Reilly, see Patrick Reilly (disambiguation).

Sir D'Arcy Patrick Reilly, GCMG (17 March 1909 – 6 October 1999) was a British diplomat who served as ambassador to the USSR and France. He held several senior posts and was called "the perfect mandarin."[1]

Biography

D'Arcy Patrick Reilly was born at

Fellow of All Souls from 1932 to 1939, the same year as Isaiah Berlin.[3]
He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1933.

Reilly was 3rd Secretary in

Imperial Defence College, and was appointed CMG
.

In 1950 he became Assistant Secretary at the Foreign Office. After serving as Minister in Paris from 1953, he returned to the Foreign Office as Deputy Secretary in 1956. In 1957 he was awarded KCMG and became

British Ambassador to France until 1968[3] when George Brown effectively terminated Reilly's career abruptly and with scant courtesy, having concluded that he was the wrong man in Paris. Brown, with his comparatively poor upbringing, resented those of privileged background,[4][5] had accordingly disliked Reilly, and was moved to 'loutish and drunken displays of rudeness' in the face of Reilly's 'natural courtesy'.[6]

Reilly was awarded the

Légion d’Honneur in 1979 and was awarded Honorary D.Litt. at Bath University
in 1981. He died in 1999, aged 90.

Personal life

Reilly married Rachel Mary Sykes, daughter of Sir Percy Sykes.[when?] After her death in 1984, Reilly married Ruth Norrington, widow of Sir Arthur Norrington (in 1987).

References

  1. ^ Pearson, Richard (10 October 1999). "Sir Patrick Reilly Dies at Age 90". The Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/73087. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  3. ^ a b James, Kenneth (9 October 1999). "Sir Patrick Reilly". the Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  4. ^ Francis Wheen "BOOK REVIEW / Statesman who bottled out: 'Tired and Emotional: The Life of Lord George Brown' – Peter Paterson", The Independent on Sunday, 9 May 1993
  5. ISBN 9780198614128. (Subscription or UK public library membership
    required.)
  6. ^ James, Kenneth (9 October 1999). "Sir Patrick Reilly". The Guardian.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
British Ambassador
to France

1965–1968 		Succeeded by
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