Adrian Holman
Encyclopedia
Sir Adrian Holman KBE
CMG
MC
(22 December 1895 - 6 September 1974) was a British
diplomat
.
, Harrow School
, and New College, Oxford
.
with the Royal Artillery
during the First World War, from 1915 to 1918, and received the Military Cross
and was mentioned in despatches.
In 1920, he joined the Diplomatic Service as a Third Secretary, serving in Brussels
from 1921 to 1924 (promoted to Second Secretary while there, 1922). In Rome
, 1924–1926, then Paris, 1926 to 1931, (becoming First Secretary
in 1931) then at HM Legation in Peking, from 1931 to 1935. At the Foreign Office, 1935–1938, then at the British Embassies in Berlin
1938-1939 and The Hague
, 1939. In 1940, he married (secondly) Betty, the only daughter of Sir Gilbert Fox, 1st Baronet. Posted to Baghdad
, 1940, where he became Counsellor, then to Teheran in 1942 and next the British Mission in Algiers
.
In 1944, Holman returned to Paris as Minister, then was British Political Representative in Rumania, from 1946
to 1947 and Minister there, 1947-49. He was Minister Plenipotentiary to Cuba
, from 1949, a post which was redesignated as Ambassador in 1950. He remained in Cuba until he retired from the Foreign Service in May, 1954.
In retirement, he lived at Bohunt Manor, Liphook
, Hampshire
, where he indulged his recreations of fishing and gardening. He was a member of the Bath Club in London
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(22 December 1895 - 6 September 1974) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Early life
The son of Richard Haswell Holman, he was educated at Copthorne Preparatory SchoolCopthorne Prep School
Copthorne Preparatory School is situated near Crawley in West Sussex, for pupils aged between 2 and 13. It consists of a nursery for infants from 2½. A junior department is for children under the age of eight . Older pupils work in the two prep school buildings, the 'New Block' which is the main...
, Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
.
Career
He served in British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
during the First World War, from 1915 to 1918, and received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and was mentioned in despatches.
In 1920, he joined the Diplomatic Service as a Third Secretary, serving in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
from 1921 to 1924 (promoted to Second Secretary while there, 1922). In Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 1924–1926, then Paris, 1926 to 1931, (becoming First Secretary
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
in 1931) then at HM Legation in Peking, from 1931 to 1935. At the Foreign Office, 1935–1938, then at the British Embassies in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
1938-1939 and The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, 1939. In 1940, he married (secondly) Betty, the only daughter of Sir Gilbert Fox, 1st Baronet. Posted to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, 1940, where he became Counsellor, then to Teheran in 1942 and next the British Mission in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
.
In 1944, Holman returned to Paris as Minister, then was British Political Representative in Rumania, from 1946
to 1947 and Minister there, 1947-49. He was Minister Plenipotentiary to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, from 1949, a post which was redesignated as Ambassador in 1950. He remained in Cuba until he retired from the Foreign Service in May, 1954.
In retirement, he lived at Bohunt Manor, Liphook
Liphook
Liphook is a large village in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 4.1 miles west of Haslemere, on the A3 road, and lies on the Hampshire/West Sussex border.Liphook has its own railway station, on the Portsmouth Direct Line....
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, where he indulged his recreations of fishing and gardening. He was a member of the Bath Club in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Honours
- Military CrossMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- Companion of the Order of St Michael and St GeorgeOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1936 - Coronation Medal, 1937
- Coronation Medal, 1953
- Chevalier of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1954