Antony Acland
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Sir Antony Arthur Acland, KG, GCMG, GCVO, (born 12 March 1930) is a British diplomat.
The son of Peter Acland and Bridget Susan Barnett, he was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, gaining an MA in 1956.
From 1975 to 1977, he was British Ambassador to Luxembourg. Head of the Diplomatic Service (Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office) between 1982 and 1986, Acland was then Ambassador to Washington (United States) from 1986 to 1991 under Margaret Thatcher. He was created Provost of Eton College in 1991 and retired in 2000. He was awarded GCMG in 1986, GCVO in 1991 and the Order of the Garter in 2001.
Acland is a vocal opponent of the United Kingdom's entry into the euro.
Whilst Provost of Eton he frequently recalled his time in Washington. He did this so often that it became a running gag amongst boys and masters, or teachers, "when I was in Washington." He played a crucial role in enlisting American support for the UK during the South Atlantic conflict of 1982. He allegedly urged Margaret Thatcher to order the sinking of the Belgrano.
He has been married twice; first in 1956 and again, after his first wife died, in 1987. He has two sons and a daughter by his first marriage.
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| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Roper |
British Ambassador to Luxembourg 1975–1977 |
Succeeded by Patrick Wright |
| Preceded by Sir Oliver Wright |
British Ambassador to the United States 1986–1991 |
Succeeded by Robin Renwick |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Lord Charteris |
Provost of Eton 1991–2000 |
Succeeded by Sir Eric Anderson |
