James Cross

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James Richard Cross, CMG (born September 29, 1921 in Ireland) was a British diplomat in Canada who was kidnapped by the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ) terrorist group during the October Crisis of October 1970.

Known by his friends as "Jasper," , during World War II, Cross served with the British military and fought for the liberation of France. After the war he would join the diplomatic service and eventually served as a Trade Commissioner in India, Halifax, Nova Scotia , Winnipeg, Manitoba and Kuala Lumpur before becoming senior Trade Commissioner in Montreal, Quebec.

On October 5, 1970, Cross was abducted from his British diplomatic residence at gunpoint in the McGill University area of Montreal and held as a hostage for two months as the FLQ made a series of demands to the Quebec government. He was released on December 3 in exchange for safe passage for his abductors to Cuba. Six members of the FLQ's Liberation cell were later convicted of Cross's kidnapping when they returned to Canada over time.

Cross went on to serve as Under-Secretary in various divisions of the British Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Energy. In 1971, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.