Peter Calvocoressi facts for kids
Peter John Ambrose Calvocoressi (born November 17, 1912 – died February 5, 2010) was a smart British man. He was a lawyer, a politician, a historian, and a publisher. During World War II, he worked as an intelligence officer at a secret place called Bletchley Park.
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Peter Calvocoressi's Early Life
Peter Calvocoressi was born in Karachi, which was then part of British India (now Pakistan). His family came from the Greek island of Chios. His mother's family, the Rallis, were important Greek traders who moved to London.
When Peter was just three months old, his family moved to Liverpool, England. His father, Pandia, had lived in Manchester and Istanbul before studying in Paris. Peter's parents married in London in 1910.
Peter was a very bright student. In 1926, he earned a scholarship to Eton College, a famous school. He studied history there. Later, from 1931 to 1934, he went to Balliol College, Oxford, where he also studied Modern History and did very well.
Peter Calvocoressi's Career
Working During World War II
In 1935, Peter Calvocoressi became a lawyer. But when World War II started, he joined the RAF Intelligence. He spent most of the war at Bletchley Park, a top-secret center.
At Bletchley Park, he worked in 'Hut 3'. This was where secret messages, sent by the German Enigma machine, were decoded and understood. This vital information was called Ultra intelligence. Peter helped prepare these messages for military leaders. He became the head of the Air Section, which focused on intelligence about the German air force (the Luftwaffe).
After the war, in 1945, Peter helped gather evidence for the Nuremberg Trials. These trials were held to judge important German leaders for their actions during the war. He even questioned a former German Field Marshal during the trial.
After the War: Publishing and Academia
After the war, Peter Calvocoressi became involved in many different fields. From 1950 to 1955, he worked at Chatham House, a famous international affairs institute. He wrote five books about world events for them.
Later, he became a partner in publishing companies like Chatto and Windus and the Hogarth Press from 1955 to 1966. He helped publish many books.
From 1966 to 1973, he taught at the University of Sussex as a Reader in International Relations. This job was created just for him.
In 1973, he returned to publishing as the Editor-in-Chief of Penguin Books, a very well-known publisher. The next year, he became the Publisher and Chief Executive. However, he had disagreements with the parent company and left in 1976.
Other Important Roles
During these years (1955-1976), Peter Calvocoressi also served on the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. He was also the chairman of several organizations, including the Africa Bureau and the London Library. He also helped govern groups like Amnesty International.
He wrote twenty books, mostly about recent history. One of his most famous books, World Politics Since 1945, was printed nine times! In 1994, he wrote his autobiography, called Threading My Way.
In 1990, the Open University gave him an honorary doctorate, which is a special award for his achievements.
See also
- History of cryptography
- Cryptanalysis of the Enigma
