James Nicholas Allan CMG CBE (born 22 May 1932) is a former British diplomat, High Commissioner in Mauritius (1981–1985) and ambassador to Mozambique (1986–1989).
Allan is the son of Morris Edward Allan and Joan Bach, and is a half-brother of Lord Bach.
Allan was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk, from 1946 to 1950, and at the London School of Economics from 1953 to 1956.
1950-1953: National Service
1953-1956: London School of Economics
1956-1958: Assistant Principal, Commonwealth Relations Office, London
1958-1959: Third Secretary and Second Secretary, British High Commission to South Africa
1959-1961: Private Secretary to Parliamentary Under-Secretary
1961-1964: First Secretary, British High Commission to Sierra Leone
1964: British High Commission to Cyprus
1964-1968: Commonwealth Relations Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
1969-1971: Head of Chancery, British Embassy to China
1971-1973: Head of Chancery, British Embassy to Luxembourg
1973-1975: Counsellor in Northern Ireland Office, Belfast
1976-1977: Counsellor, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
1978-1979: Head of Overseas Information Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
December 1979 to March 1980: Governor's Staff, Salisbury, Rhodesia
1980-1981: Head of Overseas Information Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
1981-1985: High Commissioner in Mauritius
1984-1985: (simultaneously) Ambassador to the Comoro Islands
1986-1989: Ambassador to Mozambique
1989-1992: Senior Directing Staff, Royal College of Defence Studies, London
In 1961, Allan married Helena Susara Crouse. They had one son, Nick Allan, and one daughter, Sarah. Mrs Allan died in 2001.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1976
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, 1989
He is a member of the Athenaeum Club, London .
