Eric Berthoud facts for kids

Sir Eric Alfred Berthoud (born December 10, 1900 – died April 29, 1989) was a British expert in the oil industry and a diplomat. He worked as the British ambassador to Denmark from 1952 to 1956 and to Poland from 1956 to 1960.

Early Life and School Days

Eric Berthoud was born in Kensington, London, United Kingdom. His father, Alfred Edward Berthoud, was a partner in a bank. His mother, Hélène Christ, came from a Swiss banking family. Eric was the second of their six children. Sadly, his father's bank failed while Eric was still at school. His father passed away in 1920.

Eric studied for five years at Gresham's School in Holt, Norfolk. After that, he went to Magdalen College, Oxford. He was good at field hockey and played for Oxford University. In 1922, he earned a degree in chemistry.

A Career in Oil and Diplomacy

Working with Oil Companies

From 1922 to 1926, Eric worked for the Anglo-Austrian Bank in Vienna, Austria, and Milan, Italy. Then, in 1926, he joined the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, which later became BP. He worked for this company in Paris, France, from 1926 to 1929. Later, he moved to Berlin, Germany, where he worked from 1929 to 1935. He returned to Paris and worked there again from 1935 to 1938.

Helping During Wartime

When the Second World War started in 1939, Eric joined the Ministry of Fuel and Power. This government department was in charge of energy. He was sent to the British office in Bucharest, Romania. In January 1941, Britain stopped its relations with Romania, and the office closed. For the next four years, Eric worked on important missions. His job was to make sure the Allies (the countries fighting against Germany) had enough oil.

Becoming an Ambassador

In 1945, Eric worked with the Allied Control Commission in Austria. This group helped manage Austria after the war. He then helped with peace agreements for Europe. He also worked on the Marshall Plan, which was a big plan to help rebuild Europe after the war. From 1948 to 1952, he held a senior role in the Foreign Office, which handles international relations.

After this, he became an ambassador. This meant he was the top diplomat representing the UK in other countries. He was the ambassador to Denmark from 1952 to 1956. Then, he became the ambassador to Poland from 1956 to 1960. He retired in May 1960.

Life After Retirement

Even after retiring, Eric Berthoud remained active. He became an advisor for some BP company boards. He also worked for the United World Colleges, which are schools that bring students from different countries together. He helped organize meetings between people from Britain and Poland. In 1965, he became the first Chairman of the new University of Essex. In 1969, he took on a special role as Deputy lieutenant of Essex.

He passed away in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Family Life

In 1927, Eric Berthoud married Ruth Tilston. Her father, Sir Charles Bright, was a well-known engineer. Eric and Ruth had three sons and two daughters. Sadly, one of their sons died when he was very young.

Awards and Honours

• Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, 1945
• Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George, 1954