Monarch Elizabeth II Nationality British Preceded by Sir Peter Torry Spouse(s) Plaxy | Monarch Elizabeth II Name Michael Arthur Preceded by Sir Rob Young Succeeded by Simon McDonald | |
 | ||
Full Name Michael Anthony Arthur Born 28 August 1950 (age 73) ( 1950-08-28 ) | ||
Sir Michael Anthony Arthur KCMG (born 28 August 1950) is a former senior British diplomat, who was Her Majesty's British Ambassador to Germany, 2007-10. Previously, he was the UK's High Commissioner in New Delhi. Sir Michael was succeeded as British Ambassador to Germany by Simon McDonald.
Contents
Career
Arthur had previously worked in a number of positions within the Diplomatic Service, starting out in 1972 in the UK Mission to the United Nations, and moving in 1973 to the UK's Mission in Geneva working on the additional protocols to the Geneva Convention. Between 1981 and 1984, he was Private Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal and Minister of State in the Foreign Office, and in 1984 became First Secretary Political at the British Embassy in Bonn (then the administrative capital of West Germany). He was a Political Counselor at the Embassy in Paris from 1993 to 1997 and Deputy Head of Mission in Washington from 1999 to 2001.
In 2001, Arthur was appointed Director General Europe and Economic at the Foreign Office and in 2003 succeeded Sir Rob Young as High Commissioner in New Delhi. He became Ambassador to Germany in 2007, succeeding Sir Peter Torry.
Sir Michael retired from HM Diplomatic Service in October 2010, and was succeeded in Berlin by Simon McDonald, a former British Ambassador to Israel and Head of Foreign and Defence Policy, Cabinet Office.
Personal life
Sir Michael attended Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford. He is married to Plaxy Gillian Beatrice, and has four children.