Evelyn Shuckburgh
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Arthur Evelyn Shuckburgh (26 May 1909 – 12 December 1994), better known as Evelyn Shuckburgh, was a British
diplomat. In the 1950s he was at the heart of affairs in London, as Principal Private Secretary
to the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden
, and from 1954 to 1956 as Assistant Under-Secretary
at the Foreign Office in charge of Middle East
affairs. In 1986 he published the diaries he wrote during the Suez Crisis
, titled Descent to Suez.
He was the son of Sir John Evelyn Shuckburgh, an under-secretary at the Colonial Office
, and was educated at Winchester
and King's College, Cambridge
. Shuckburgh entered the Diplomatic Service
in 1933, spending his early years in Egypt
, Canada
, Argentina
and Czechoslovakia
. In Egypt, during the years preceding the Second World War, he was for a time Private Secretary
to Sir Miles Lampson, the British Ambassador to Egypt. He served as chargé d'affaires
in Argentina in 1944.
Shuckburgh returned to the Foreign Office in 1947. After heading up three successive regional departments, he was recommended in 1951 for the post of Private Secretary
to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Ernest Bevin
had retired in March of that year, to be succeeded by Herbert Morrison
for a seven-month period, followed by Anthony Eden
when the Conservative Party
took power that autumn. In the succeeding three years Eden and Shuckburgh were involved in the post-war reorganisation of Western Europe
which led up to the creation of the Common Market, in negotiations in Korea and Indochina
, and in making an agreement with Egypt over the withdrawal of British forces from the Suez Canal Zone.
After a period at the Imperial Defence College, Shuckburgh served at the headquarters of NATO in Paris, in 1958, as Assistant Secretary-General. He was British Permanent Representative
to the North Atlantic Council
from 1962 to 1966. He spoke Italian fluently and his final posting was as Ambassador to Italy from 1966 to 1969.
After retiring in 1969, Shuckburgh returned to Britain and lived in the Chilterns. During the 1970s he chaired his local committee for the National Trust
. He also worked for the British Red Cross
; he was Chairman of both its Executive Committee and its Council. Shuckburgh died on 12 December 1994 in Watlington, Oxfordshire
.
. They had a daughter, Catherine (born 1939), and two sons, Julian John Evelyn (born 30 July 1940) and Robin Anthony (born 1948).
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. In the 1950s he was at the heart of affairs in London, as Principal Private Secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
to the Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
, and from 1954 to 1956 as Assistant Under-Secretary
Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
|The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has been a junior position in the British government since 1782, subordinate to both the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and since 1945 also to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs...
at the Foreign Office in charge of Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
affairs. In 1986 he published the diaries he wrote during the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, titled Descent to Suez.
He was the son of Sir John Evelyn Shuckburgh, an under-secretary at the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
, and was educated at Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. Shuckburgh entered the Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service
Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service is the diplomatic service of the United Kingdom, dealing with foreign affairs, as opposed to the Home Civil Service, which deals with domestic affairs...
in 1933, spending his early years in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. In Egypt, during the years preceding the Second World War, he was for a time Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to Sir Miles Lampson, the British Ambassador to Egypt. He served as chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
in Argentina in 1944.
Shuckburgh returned to the Foreign Office in 1947. After heading up three successive regional departments, he was recommended in 1951 for the post of Private Secretary
Private Secretary
In the United Kingdom government, a Private Secretary is a civil servant in a Department or Ministry, responsible to the Secretary of State or Minister...
to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
had retired in March of that year, to be succeeded by Herbert Morrison
Herbert Morrison
Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, CH, PC was a British Labour politician; he held a various number of senior positions in the Cabinet, including Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.-Early life:Morrison was the son of a police constable and was born in...
for a seven-month period, followed by Anthony Eden
Anthony Eden
Robert Anthony Eden, 1st Earl of Avon, KG, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician, who was Prime Minister from 1955 to 1957...
when the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
took power that autumn. In the succeeding three years Eden and Shuckburgh were involved in the post-war reorganisation of Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
which led up to the creation of the Common Market, in negotiations in Korea and Indochina
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
, and in making an agreement with Egypt over the withdrawal of British forces from the Suez Canal Zone.
After a period at the Imperial Defence College, Shuckburgh served at the headquarters of NATO in Paris, in 1958, as Assistant Secretary-General. He was British Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
from 1962 to 1966. He spoke Italian fluently and his final posting was as Ambassador to Italy from 1966 to 1969.
After retiring in 1969, Shuckburgh returned to Britain and lived in the Chilterns. During the 1970s he chaired his local committee for the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. He also worked for the British Red Cross
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross Society is the United Kingdom branch of the worldwide impartial humanitarian organisation the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The society was formed in 1870, and is a registered charity with over 31,000 volunteers and 2,600 staff. At the heart of their work...
; he was Chairman of both its Executive Committee and its Council. Shuckburgh died on 12 December 1994 in Watlington, Oxfordshire
Watlington, Oxfordshire
Watlington is a market town and civil parish about south of Thame in Oxfordshire. The parish includes the hamlets of Christmas Common and Greenfield, both of which are in the Chiltern Hills. The M40 motorway is from Watlington.-History:...
.
Personal life
On 25 September 1937, Shuckburgh married Nancy Mildred Gladys Brett, daughter of Oliver Sylvain Baliol Brett, the third Viscount EsherViscount Esher
Viscount Esher, of Esher in the County of Surrey, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1897 for the prominent lawyer and judge William Brett, 1st Baron Esher, upon his retirement as Master of the Rolls. He had already been created Baron Esher, of Esher in the County of...
. They had a daughter, Catherine (born 1939), and two sons, Julian John Evelyn (born 30 July 1940) and Robin Anthony (born 1948).
