Preceded by Charles Ritchie Name John Starnes Succeeded by Escott Reid Role Novelist | Preceded by Jean Chapdelaine Education Bishop's University Preceded by Jean Chapdelaine | |
Succeeded by Thomas Lemesurier Carter Succeeded by Thomas Lemesurier Carter Died December 23, 2014, Halifax, Canada | ||
John Kennett Starnes (February 5, 1918 – December 23, 2014) was a Canadian civil servant, diplomat, and novelist.
Born in Montreal, Quebec to a wealthy family, Starnes was educated at Selwyn House School, Trinity College School, the Institute Sillig in Switzerland, the University of Munich and Bishop's University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. During World War II, he served with the Black Watch, the Canadian Intelligence Corps (1941), the Canadian War Staff College (1942), and the 21st Army Group in the United Kingdom. He was discharged in 1944 with the rank of Captain.
After the War, Starnes joined the Public Service of Canada in the Department of External Affairs rising to become Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957 and Head of the Canadian Military Mission in Berlin from 1962 to 1966. He was also the Canadian Ambassador to Egypt and Sudan. From 1967 to 1970 he was Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs. He resigned from the Public Service in 1970 and was appointed Director General, Security and Intelligence Directorate for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He retired in 1973. Colin Starnes is one of his sons.
He is the author of Deep Sleepers (1981), Scarab (1982), Orion's Belt (1983), The Cornish Hug (1985), and Latonya (1994). His memoir, Closely Guarded: A Life in Canadian Security and Intelligence was published by the University of Toronto Press in 1998.