Terence O'Brien (British diplomat) facts for kids
Terence John O'Brien (born October 13, 1921, in Ranchi, India – died December 22, 2006, in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England) was a British diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. He worked to build good relationships between Britain and other countries. He was honored with the CMG and the MC for his important work.
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Early Life and School
Terence was born in India. His father, Joseph O'Brien, was also a British civil servant in India. This meant his family had a long history of working for the British government there. When Terence was eleven, his father retired. They moved to Norfolk, a county in England.
Terence went to Gresham's School in Holt. After that, he studied at Merton College, Oxford University. He started university in 1939.
War Hero
Terence's university studies were stopped by the Second World War. He joined the army and became a captain in the Ayrshire Yeomanry. He was part of the Normandy Landings, a very important event in the war.
In 1945, he received the Military Cross. This award was for his brave work mapping areas between Allied and enemy lines. After the war, he went back to Oxford. He finished his degree and was active in the university's drama club.
A Career in Diplomacy
In 1947, Terence O'Brien began his career as a diplomat. He worked in different government offices. These included the Dominions Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office. From 1950 to 1952, he worked at the British High Commission in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
He also spent time working for the Treasury. Later, he became a First Secretary in Australia. His diplomatic work then took him to South and South East Asia.
Ambassador to Nepal
In 1970, Terence became the British ambassador to Nepal. As an ambassador, he represented Britain in that country. He traveled to faraway places to check on British aid projects. These projects helped people in Nepal.
He even went trekking with the Crown Prince Birendra, who was a close friend. His biggest success in Nepal was helping to stop a serious famine. He organized a relief effort with the RAF (Royal Air Force) and the Indian government. In Kathmandu, he even invented a fun sport called duck racing!
Ambassador to Burma and Indonesia
In 1974, he became the ambassador to Burma (now Myanmar). He did not like the government there at the time. He had to meet with General Ne Win many times for official duties. He made friends with important people, including the mother of Aung San Suu Kyi.
His next job was as ambassador to Indonesia in 1978. The country was led by Suharto. Here, Terence faced the challenge of a trade dispute between Britain and Indonesia.
Retirement and Family Life
Terence O'Brien retired in 1981. He moved to Dorset in England. He enjoyed spending a lot of his time fishing for trout. When he passed away in 2006, he was living in Wallingford, Oxfordshire.
Terence married Phyllis Mitchell in 1950. Sadly, she died in 1952. In 1953, he married Rita Emily Drake Reynolds. They had one son and two daughters together.
Awards and Honors
