The Right Honourable The Lord Henniker KCMG CVO MC |
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British Ambassador to Denmark | |
In office 1962–1966 |
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Preceded by | Sir William Montagu-Pollock |
Succeeded by | Oliver Wright |
British Ambassador to Jordan | |
In office 1960–1962 |
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Preceded by | Charles Hepburn Johnston |
Succeeded by | Sir Roderick Parkes |
Personal details | |
Born | 19 February 1916 |
Died | 29 April 2004 |
Nationality | British |
Spouse(s) | Margaret Osla Benning (1946-1974) Julia Poland (1976-death) |
Children | Mark, Charles and Jane |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Occupation | Civil servant and diplomat |
Religion | Church of England |
Awards | Military Cross |
Military service | |
Allegiance |
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Service/branch |
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Years of service | 1939 - 1945 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | Rifle Brigade |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
John Patrick Edward Chandos Henniker-Major, 8th Baron Henniker KCMG CVO MC (19 February 1916 – 29 April 2004), known as Sir John Henniker-Major from 1965 to 1980, was a British peer, civil servant and diplomat.
Henniker was the eldest son of John Ernest de Grey Henniker-Major, 7th Baron Henniker, and Molly Burnet. He was educated at Stowe and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained a First in Modern Languages. He entered the Foreign Office in 1938, completing the entrance examinations at the top of his intake. He was appointed Third Secretary that year. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Henniker was released for military service. He was commissioned as an officer into the Rifle Brigade, eventually rising to the rank of Major. During the war he served in the Western Desert Campaign, being wounded in Libya and hospitalised in Cairo. In 1943 he joined Fitzroy Maclean's mission in Yugoslavia whilst on secondment to the Special Operations Executive. In 1945 he was awarded the Military Cross.
After the war he returned to the diplomatic service and served at the British Embassy in Belgrade from 1945 to 1946, as Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin from 1946 to 1948, at the Foreign Office from 1948 to 1950 and at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires from 1950 to 1952. From 1953 to 1960 he was Head of the Personnel Department at the Foreign Office.