Michael Jenkins (diplomat)
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Romily Heald Jenkins, KCMG
(born 1936) is a former British diplomat.
Born in Cambridge
and son of the Byzantine scholar, Romilly Jenkins, he was trained as a Russian interepreter during his National Service. He subsequently studied languages and history as an Exhibitioner at Kings College, Cambridge (1956-59), from where he graduated and joined the Diplomatic Service in 1959. Following senior postings in Europe,including ten years at the European Commission, he became Minister at the British Embassy in Washington, and in 1988 Ambassador to the Netherlands
. He retired from the Foreign Office in 1993, after which he joined the Board of Kleinwort Benson as an executive director,becoming Vice-Chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in 1996. For five years he was a non-executive director of Aegon, the Dutch based insurance company.In 2003 he was appointed President of Boeing UK
. In 2007 he joined the Board of Geopark, the Aim listed oil and gas company, as a non-executive Director, and in March 2008, Sir Michael became Chairman of Matra Petroleum plc. He is now a Senior Advisor at Kleinwort Benson Ltd.
Sir Michael has held several senior positions at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and was Chairman of the Club from 2000-2001. He is currently a Commissioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
While serving a tour of duty in Moscow
he researched a biography of Aleksey Arakcheyev
which was published in 1969, and towards the end of his diplomatic career he wrote a memoir of his youth, A House in Flanders. He also edited a memoir by his aunt, the writer Elizabeth Jenkins, which was published (Michael Russell) in 2005 her 100th year.
Jenkins was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1989 for his diplomatic services.
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....
(born 1936) is a former British diplomat.
Born in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and son of the Byzantine scholar, Romilly Jenkins, he was trained as a Russian interepreter during his National Service. He subsequently studied languages and history as an Exhibitioner at Kings College, Cambridge (1956-59), from where he graduated and joined the Diplomatic Service in 1959. Following senior postings in Europe,including ten years at the European Commission, he became Minister at the British Embassy in Washington, and in 1988 Ambassador to the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He retired from the Foreign Office in 1993, after which he joined the Board of Kleinwort Benson as an executive director,becoming Vice-Chairman of Dresdner Kleinwort Benson in 1996. For five years he was a non-executive director of Aegon, the Dutch based insurance company.In 2003 he was appointed President of Boeing UK
Boeing Defence UK
Boeing's presence in the United Kingdom is currently made up of a number of Boeing businesses :* Boeing Defence UK* Boeing UK Limited* Aviall* Alteon* Jeppesen* Continental Data Graphics...
. In 2007 he joined the Board of Geopark, the Aim listed oil and gas company, as a non-executive Director, and in March 2008, Sir Michael became Chairman of Matra Petroleum plc. He is now a Senior Advisor at Kleinwort Benson Ltd.
Sir Michael has held several senior positions at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and was Chairman of the Club from 2000-2001. He is currently a Commissioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
While serving a tour of duty in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
he researched a biography of Aleksey Arakcheyev
Aleksey Arakcheyev
Count Alexey Andreyevich Arakcheyev or Arakcheev was a Russian general and statesman under the reign of Alexander I.He served under Paul I and Alexander I as army leader and artillery inspector respectively. He had a violent temper, but was otherwise a competent artillerist, and is known for his...
which was published in 1969, and towards the end of his diplomatic career he wrote a memoir of his youth, A House in Flanders. He also edited a memoir by his aunt, the writer Elizabeth Jenkins, which was published (Michael Russell) in 2005 her 100th year.
Jenkins was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1989 for his diplomatic services.
Books
- Arakcheev: Grand Vizier of the Russian Empire (Faber and Faber,and The Dial Press, 1969) ISBN 0-571-08222-X
- A House in Flanders (Souvenir Press 1992, Meulenhoff 1992,Minerva 1993,Viking 1993,Clausen 1994 and La Table Ronde 1996) ISBN 0-670-84780-1
- The View from Downshire Hill (Editor)(Michael Russell 2005)