Peter Sutherland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Sutherland
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Official portrait, 1985
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| UN Special Representative for International Migration | |
| In office 12 January 2006 – 9 March 2017 |
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| Secretary-General | |
| Succeeded by | Louise Arbour |
| Chairman of Goldman Sachs | |
| In office 1 July 1995 – 1 May 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Edith W. Cooper |
| Succeeded by | Lloyd Blankfein |
| 1st Director-General of the World Trade Organization | |
| In office 1 July 1993 – 1 May 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Dunkel as Director-General of the GATT |
| Succeeded by | Renato Ruggiero |
| European Commissioner for Competition | |
| In office 7 January 1985 – 5 January 1989 |
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| President | Jacques Delors |
| Preceded by | Frans Andriessen |
| Succeeded by | Leon Brittan |
| 19th Attorney General of Ireland | |
| In office 30 June 1981 – 9 March 1982 |
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| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | Anthony J. Hederman |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Connolly |
| In office 15 December 1982 – 12 December 1984 |
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| Taoiseach | Garret FitzGerald |
| Preceded by | John L. Murray |
| Succeeded by | John Rogers |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Denis Sutherland
25 April 1946 Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 7 January 2018 (aged 71) Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Kilternan Cemetery Park, Dublin |
| Political party | Fine Gael |
| Spouse |
Maruja
(m. 1971) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Gonzaga College |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Peter Denis Sutherland (born April 25, 1946 – died January 7, 2018) was an important Irish businessman, lawyer, and politician. He was known for holding many big jobs in international organizations, politics, and business.
He served as the UN Special Representative for International Migration from 2006 to 2017. In this role, he helped create the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). He also led the International Catholic Migration Commission.
Before these roles, Sutherland was a top lawyer in Ireland. He was the Attorney General of Ireland twice (1981–1982 and 1982–1984). He also worked as the European Commissioner for Competition (1985–1989). He was the first Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 1993 to 1995. Later, he became chairman of Goldman Sachs International (1995–2015). He received many awards, including the European Person of the Year Award in 1988.
Who Was Peter Sutherland?
Peter Denis Sutherland was a very influential person from Ireland. He worked in many different fields, from law and government to international trade and business. His career spanned several decades, making a big impact on global policies and organizations.
Early Life and Education
Peter Sutherland was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1946. He went to Gonzaga College in Dublin for his schooling. After that, he studied Civil Law at University College Dublin.
He became a lawyer and worked at the Irish Bar from 1969 to 1980. In 1974, he married Maruja, who was from Spain.
A Career in Law and Government
Peter Sutherland held several important positions in the Irish government and the European Union. His work often focused on making things fairer and more open.
Ireland's Attorney General
Sutherland was appointed as the Attorney General of Ireland in June 1981. He held this job until March 1982. He took on the role again from December 1982 to December 1984. The Attorney General is the chief legal advisor to the government.
European Commissioner
In 1985, Sutherland became a member of the European Commission (EC). The EC is like the executive branch of the European Union. He was in charge of competition policy, which means making sure businesses compete fairly.
He also helped start the Erasmus Programme. This program allows university students from European countries to study in other member states. He was very proud of this achievement. He was the youngest person ever to be a European Commissioner.
Leading Global Trade: GATT and WTO
One of Peter Sutherland's most significant roles was in global trade. He helped create the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In 1993, he became the Director-General of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). This organization later became the WTO. Many people credit him with being a key figure in what is called "globalisation." This means making it easier for countries to trade goods and services worldwide.
He led the "Uruguay Round" of global trade talks. These talks finished in December 1993 and led to the biggest trade agreement in history. This agreement created the WTO, which sets rules for international trade. His leadership was seen as essential for these talks to succeed.
Sutherland changed the role of the Director-General. He made it so that the person in this job could talk directly with presidents and prime ministers, not just trade ministers. This helped the WTO become a more important and respected organization.
A Busy Business Career
Besides his government and international roles, Peter Sutherland also had a successful career in business. He held leadership positions in several major companies.
He was the chairman of Allied Irish Banks (AIB) from 1989 to 1993. He also served as the non-executive chairman of Goldman Sachs International until 2015. Goldman Sachs is a very large global investment bank.
From 2000 to 2009, he was the non-executive chairman of BP, a major energy company. He was also a director of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. He was involved with many other important groups, like the Bilderberg Group and the Trilateral Commission. These groups bring together leaders from different fields to discuss global issues.
Views on Migration
Peter Sutherland was a strong supporter of international migration. He believed that people should have the freedom to choose where they work and study. He also thought that migration is very important for economic growth.
He argued that countries should work together on migration policies. He believed that multiculturalism, where different cultures live together, is both natural and good. He felt that countries need to become more open to people from different backgrounds. He often pointed out that aging populations in some countries need new people to help their economies grow.
In 2014, he became the President of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). This organization helps migrants and refugees.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Peter Sutherland continued to be active. In 2009, he had an operation for throat cancer and underwent treatment. Despite his illness, he remained passionate about his work.
He was a strong supporter of the European Union. He believed that Ireland's economy improved greatly when it took advantage of the EU's rules allowing free movement of goods, money, and services.
He was offered the job of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees twice but declined due to other commitments. He considered his work at GATT/WTO and helping to start the Erasmus student exchange program as his most rewarding achievements.
Peter Sutherland passed away in Dublin on January 7, 2018, at the age of 71, after a long illness. He is remembered for his dedication to international cooperation and his efforts to promote global trade and migration.
Awards and Honours
Peter Sutherland received many awards and honorary degrees from universities around the world. These awards recognized his important contributions in law, politics, business, and international relations.
Some of his notable awards include:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Spain, 1989)
- Knight of the Legion of Honour (France, 1993)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II (Belgium, 1989)
- Honorary Knighthood of the Order of St Michael and St George (UK, 2004)
- The Gold Medal of the European Parliament (1988)
- European Person of the Year Award (1988)
- The David Rockefeller International Leadership Award (1998)
In 2013, the law school at University College Dublin was renamed the Sutherland School of Law in his honor.
Images for kids
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Sutherland (centre) with IIE director C. Fred Bergsten and US deputy Treasury secretary Lawrence Summers at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, 1997
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Sutherland in 2011
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In Spanish: Peter Sutherland para niños
