Hugh Mackintosh Foot, Baron Caradon, GCMG KCVO OBE PC (8 October 1907 – 5 September 1990) was a British colonial administrator and diplomat who oversaw moves to independence in various colonies and was UK representative to the United Nations.
Foot was educated at Leighton Park School in Reading, Berkshire, and at St John's College at the University of Cambridge where he was President of the Cambridge Union and the Cambridge University Liberal Club. He was the son of solicitor and Liberal Party MP Isaac Foot, and brother of the MP Sir Dingle Foot, the life peer Lord John Foot, and Labour Party MP and party leader (1980–83) Michael Foot. He was the father of the late Paul Foot, a journalist, and Oliver Foot, an actor.
Foot's career in the diplomatic service was long and distinguished. During the Second World War, he was British Military Administrator of Cyrenaica, 1943 then Colonial Secretary of Cyprus, 1943-1945. After the War, he served as Colonial Secretary of Jamaica, 1945–1947, Chief Secretary for Nigeria, 1947–1950 and Captain General and Governor in Chief of Jamaica, 1951-1957.
He returned to Cyprus as the last colonial Governor and Commander in Chief, 1957-1960. In 1961, he became British Ambassador to the United Nations Trusteeship Council. After Harold Wilson won the 1964 election, Foot became Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and British Ambassador to the United Nations from 1964-1970. After his retirement, he became a Visiting Fellow at Harvard University and Princeton University.
Foot was created a life peer as Baron Caradon, of St Cleer in the County of Cornwall, in 1964, the title referring to Caradon Hill on Bodmin Moor. Lord Caradon occupied Trematon Castle as his country home.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John Huggins |
Governor of Jamaica 1951–1957 |
Succeeded by Sir Kenneth Blackburne |
| Preceded by John Harding |
Governor of Cyprus 1957–1960 |
Cyprus became independent |