Preceded by George Warr Nationality British Alma mater Christ Church, Oxford | Succeeded by David Duncan Spouse(s) Patricia Vincent Education Christ Church, Oxford | |
Full Name Ivor Francis Sutherland Vincent Children Frances (deceased)
Katie
Nicola
Sarah Died 5 May 1994, London, United Kingdom | ||
Ivor Francis Sutherland Vincent CMG MBE (14 October 1912 – 5 May 1994) was a British diplomat and co-founder of the Andean Project. His most notable diplomatic post was as Her Majesty's Ambassador to Nicaragua from 1970 to 1973, succeeded by David Duncan in 1974.
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Early career
Ivor Vincent was born in October 1916. He was educated at Radley College, a public school in Oxfordshire, and then further educated at Christ Church, Oxford. Upon graduating, Vincent joined Her Majesty's Civil Service on the Board of Trade in 1940.
In 1941, Vincent joined the Garhwal rifles, where he served in India and Burma. He was later appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his military service. Vincent then went on, with civil and military experience under his belt, to become Second Secretary in the Foreign Office.
Vincent's first foreign posting in the Diplomatic Service was in the British embassy at Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina. He also had positions in the British delegation to the Conference on Disarmament, in Geneva. Vincent was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George at the 1966 Birthday Honours.
Major postings
Vincent's two major postings came in the form of British Ambassador to Nicaragua and Consul-General at Melbourne. Vincent 'made the best' of the political situation in Nicaragua, which included maintaining relations with Anastasio Somoza García, Nicaragua's former authoritarian dictator.
Despite being less satisfied with his Australian posting in Melbourne, Vincent grew found of Australian culture.
Later years and death
After his retirement from the Diplomatic Service in 1976, Vincent became director of the Fairbridge Society, a position he held for five years.
Although his latter years were dogged by ill-health, Vincent managed to support his wife Patricia with the Andean Project, a charity to 'advance education and to promote any other purpose which is charitable by English law for the benefit of the people of the Andes mountains', in Chile. He died on 5 May 1994, aged 77.