James Plimsoll
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Sir James Plimsoll AC CBE (May 25, 1917 – 8 May 1987) was an Australian diplomat and Governor of Tasmania.
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[edit] Life and career
Plimsoll was born in 1917 in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys' High School (1929-33). He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney 1938 and was appointed to the Bank of New South Wales as an economist. In 1941 he graduated as Bachelor of Arts, also from the University of Sydney.
With the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces in 1942. During the War he was attached to the Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs. In 1945 he was a member of the Australian delegation to the Far Eastern Commission, established to oversee the Allied Council for Japan, which was responsible for the Japanese occupation. At the end of the war, he was on the staff of the Australian School of Pacific Administration. Plimsoll was appointed a First Secretary of the Department of External Affairs in 1948.
[edit] Korea
He was appointed the Australian representative on the United Nations Commission for Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea (UNCURK) in 1950, during the Korean War. When UNCURK was established in October 1950 the war was expected to conclude quickly. However, by the time of its first meeting in Seoul in November, China had intervened and unification and rehabilitation was no longer possible. While other UNCURK delegates wanted to leave Korea, Plimsoll persuaded them that it was important that a high-level civilian presence should remain in Korea. UNCURK then moved to the southern city of Busan, along with the Government of the Republic of Korea and played a valuable role in communicating between the Korean Government, the UN military Command and the United Nations in New York. It also observed Korean elections.
Plimsoll had a considerable influence on President Syngman Rhee, to whom he conveyed the the views of the United Nations and the troop-contributing nations. He also expressed the Western nations' concerns about Rhee's undemocratic behaviour and abuse of human rights.[1]
[edit] Diplomacy
In 1953, Plimsoll returned to Department of External Affairs. He was appointed as Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 1959 and he became Australia's High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal in 1962. In 1965, he became head of the Department of External Affairs.
In 1970, Plimsoll was appointed as Ambassador to the United States of America, a job normally reserved in Australia for senior ex-politicians. In 1974, he became Ambassador to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He was appointed as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Economic Community in 1977 and in 1980 became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. His final diplomatic post was as Ambassador to Japan in 1981 and 1982.
He was described by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, in 2006 as Australia's "greatest Ambassador".[2]
[edit] Governor of Tasmania
Plimsoll became Governor of Tasmania in 1982. He was only the second bachelor to serve in the office, and, as well as pursuing a punishingly busy schedule of community engagements, took on all the patronages normally held by the Governor's spouse. He was hugely popular in the State and his appointment was extended at the end of five years. Plimsoll's sudden death in office in May 1987 was greeted with widespread mourning. He was accorded a State Funeral at St David's Cathedral in Hobart, attended by the Governor-General and four other State Governors. His remains were transported to Sydney for interment.
[edit] Awards
- 1956 — awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1962 — awarded Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- 1976 — awarded Companion of the Order of Australia
- 1984 — Admitted to degree of Doctor of Science in Economics at the University of Sydney
- 1987 — Admitted to degree of Doctor of Laws at the University of Tasmania
[edit] References
- Papers of Sir James Plimsoll. National Library of Australia. Retrieved on December 24, 2006.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ James Plimsoll and UNCURK. Out in the Cold - Australia's involvement in the Korean War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved on December 24, 2006.
- ^ Australia and Europe: Sharing Global Responsibilities. Australian Government (11 May 2006). Retrieved on December 24, 2006.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Plimsoll, James |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian Diplomat and Governor of Tasmania |
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 25, 1917 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | 8 May 1987 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia |
