Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations

Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...

 typically exchange High Commissioner

High Commissioner

High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...

s, rather than Ambassador

Ambassador

An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....

s. Though there are a few technical differences (for instance, whereas Ambassadors present their diplomatic credentials to the host country's head of state

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

, High Commissioners are accredited to the head of government

Head of government

Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...

), they are in practice one and the same office. The following persons have served as British High Commissioner to India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

.

• 1946; Sir Terence Allen Shone
  Terence Shone
  Sir Terence Allen Shone KCMG was a British diplomat who served as the United Kingdom's Minister to Syria and Lebanon from 1944, High Commissioner to India from 1946 and representative to the United Nations Security Council from 1949. He was educated at Winchester College and University College,...
  
  
• 1948–1952: Sir Archibald Nye
  Archibald Nye
  Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Edward Nye, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, KCB, KBE, MC was a British Army officer who served in both World War I and World War II...
  
  
• 1952–1955: Sir Alexander Clutterbuck
• 1955–1960: Malcolm MacDonald
  Malcolm MacDonald
  Malcolm John MacDonald OM, PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Background:MacDonald was the son of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Margaret MacDonald. Like his father he was born in Lossiemouth, Moray...
  
  
• 1960–1965: Sir Paul Gore-Booth
  Paul Gore-Booth, Baron Gore-Booth
  Paul Henry Gore-Booth, Baron Gore-Booth, GCMG, KCVO, was a British diplomat. He served in HM Diplomatic Service and in retirement held the following appointments: Director: Grindlays Bank, 1969–79; United Kingdom Provident Institution, 1969–79; Registrar, Order of St Michael and St George,...
  
  
• 1965–1968: John Freeman
• 1968–1971: Sir Morrice James
• 1971–1973: Sir Terence Garvey:ru:Гарви, Теренс
• 1974–1976: Sir Michael Walker
• 1977–1982: John Thomson
• 1982–1987: Sir Robert Wade-Gery
• 1987–1991: Sir David Goodall
• 1991–1996: Sir Nicholas Fenn
• 1996–1998: Sir David Gore-Booth
  David Gore-Booth
  Sir David Alwyn Gore-Booth, KCMG, KCVO was a British diplomat.-Family and education:Twin son of late Paul Gore-Booth, Baron Gore-Booth, GCMG, KCVO...
  
  
• 1999–2003: Sir Rob Young
• 2003–2007: Sir Michael Arthur
• 2007–2011: Sir Richard Stagg
• 2011–: James Bevan CMG

External links

• British High Commission in India