Denis McLean
Encyclopedia
Denis McLean, CMG
(18 August 1930 – 30 March 2011) was a New Zealand
diplomat, academic, author and civil servant.
He began with the Department of External Affairs in 1957 after completing his Rhodes Scholarship
at University College, Oxford
. He was posted to Washington DC, Paris, Kuala Lumpur and London, where he was deputy high commissioner from 1972-77. He was Secretary of Defence
from 1979 to 1988 and Ambassador to the United States from 1991 to 1994.
After his retirement from government service in 1995, Mr. McLean served as the Joan and James Warburg Chair of International Relations at Simmons College
in Boston. Mr McLean's distinguished career as a public servant, writer, historian and commentator on international relations also led him to be a Guest/Visiting Scholor at the Strategic & Defense Studies Centre, the Australian National University
in Canberra, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
, and the U.S. Institute of Peace.
He wrote three books: The Long Pathway, Te Araroa, based on walking the North Island with his family, Prickly Pair, on Australian-NZ relations, and Howard Kippenberger: Dauntless Spirit, a biography of military commander Sir Howard Kippenberger
. He also served on the Press Council.
McLean died on 30 March 2011 at his home in Wellington
.
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....
(18 August 1930 – 30 March 2011) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
diplomat, academic, author and civil servant.
He began with the Department of External Affairs in 1957 after completing his Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
. He was posted to Washington DC, Paris, Kuala Lumpur and London, where he was deputy high commissioner from 1972-77. He was Secretary of Defence
Ministry of Defence (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Ministry of Defence is the arm of the New Zealand Government charged with providing advice on defence matters, as well as providing civilian administration and oversight over the New Zealand Defence Force....
from 1979 to 1988 and Ambassador to the United States from 1991 to 1994.
After his retirement from government service in 1995, Mr. McLean served as the Joan and James Warburg Chair of International Relations at Simmons College
Simmons College (Massachusetts)
Simmons College, established in 1899, is a private women's undergraduate college and private co-educational graduate school in Boston, Massachusetts.-History:Simmons was founded in 1899 with a bequest by John Simmons a wealthy clothing manufacturer in Boston...
in Boston. Mr McLean's distinguished career as a public servant, writer, historian and commentator on international relations also led him to be a Guest/Visiting Scholor at the Strategic & Defense Studies Centre, the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in Canberra, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
, and the U.S. Institute of Peace.
He wrote three books: The Long Pathway, Te Araroa, based on walking the North Island with his family, Prickly Pair, on Australian-NZ relations, and Howard Kippenberger: Dauntless Spirit, a biography of military commander Sir Howard Kippenberger
Howard Kippenberger
Major-General Sir Howard Karl Kippenberger, KBE, CB, DSO, ED, , known as Kip, served as a New Zealand soldier in both World Wars.-Personal life:Howard Kippenberger married Ruth Isobel Flynn, of Lyttelton in 1922...
. He also served on the Press Council.
McLean died on 30 March 2011 at his home in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.