Howard Smith (diplomat)

Sir Howard Frank Trayton Smith GCMG (15 October 1919 – 7 May 1996) was a British diplomat who served as Director General of MI5 from 1978 to 1981.

Sir

Howard Smith

GCMG
Born15 October 1919
Died7 May 1996(1996-05-07) (aged 76)
NationalityBritish
Alma materSidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)Intelligence officer, Diplomat
Espionage activity
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service branchMI5
Service years1979–1981
RankDirector General of MI5

Career

Educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge,[1] Smith worked at Bletchley Park during World War II and later became the British ambassador to Moscow.[2] At college in Cambridge, Smith was a contemporary of Asa Briggs, playing chess with him and recommending Briggs to fellow Cambridge mathematician Gordon Welchman for service in Hut 6.[3]

Smith joined the Foreign Office in 1939.[4] From 1946 to 1950, Smith served in the Foreign Service in Oslo and Washington. In 1953, he was Consul in Caracas; between 1961 and 1963, he was Counsellor of State in Moscow.[4]

Smith served as Ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1968 to 1971 and later served as Ambassador to the Soviet Union in Moscow from 1976 to 1978.[4]

In 1978 Smith was unexpectedly appointed Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, by Prime Minister James Callaghan, serving until March 1981.[1] He was the first DG from a background in the diplomatic service. Callaghan later explained that he: wanted 'to bring someone into the office from a different culture'.[5]

Honours

References
  1. Obituary: Sir Howard Smith The Independent, 10 May 1996
  2. Derek Taunt, "Breaking German Naval Enigma", p. 111 in Action this Day, edited by Ralph Erskine and Michael Smith, 2001, ISBN 0-593-04982-9.
  3. Jones, Nigel (15 March 2016). "Asa Briggs obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  4. "Smith, Sir Howard (Frank Trayton), (15 Oct. 1919–7 May 1996), HM Diplomatic Service, retired". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u181969. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. "Sir Howard Smith | MI5 - The Security Service". www.mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.


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