David Hunt (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir David Hunt KCMG
, OBE
(1913 – July 1998) was a British diplomat, best remembered as winner of the BBC
's Mastermind
television quiz in 1977.
Hunt was born in Durham
, and studied at Wadham College, Oxford
. He served with distinction in World War II
, and entered the diplomatic service in 1947. He served as Private Secretary to prime ministers Clement Attlee
and Winston Churchill
, and was knighted in 1963. From 1965 to 1967 he was the British High Commissioner to Cyprus
. He later served as High Commissioner to Nigeria and then as British Ambassador to Brazil, retiring in 1973.
Hunt won the Mastermind title in 1977 and was runner-up in the Mastermind International of 1979.
In 1982, a Champion of Champions tournament between the first ten Mastermind champions was televised. Sir David Hunt won the overall title.
A revised edition of the two books A Don at war and On the spot: an ambassador remembers.. Co-authored with J.N. Coldstream
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....
, OBE
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...
(1913 – July 1998) was a British diplomat, best remembered as winner of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
television quiz in 1977.
Hunt was born in Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, and studied at Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
. He served with distinction in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and entered the diplomatic service in 1947. He served as Private Secretary to prime ministers Clement Attlee
Clement Attlee
Clement Richard Attlee, 1st Earl Attlee, KG, OM, CH, PC, FRS was a British Labour politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1951, and as the Leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955...
and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, and was knighted in 1963. From 1965 to 1967 he was the British High Commissioner to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. He later served as High Commissioner to Nigeria and then as British Ambassador to Brazil, retiring in 1973.
Hunt won the Mastermind title in 1977 and was runner-up in the Mastermind International of 1979.
In 1982, a Champion of Champions tournament between the first ten Mastermind champions was televised. Sir David Hunt won the overall title.
Publications
Hunt had a number of books published:A revised edition of the two books A Don at war and On the spot: an ambassador remembers.. Co-authored with J.N. Coldstream