Peter Edward Ramsbotham, 3rd Viscount Soulbury, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, DL (8 October 1919 – 9 April 2010) was a British diplomat and colonial administrator.
Ramsbotham was educated at Eton College and at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was already working for MI5 as a civilian when he joined the army on the outbreak of the Second World War. In April 1941, Ramsbotham was working in B3 Division of MI5 (Communications) with the task of studying the activities of foreign journalists in the UK. In July he was with B3A (Censorship) before moving to E3 (Alien Control – USA citizens in the UK and other territories). By 1943 he was with E2 Division dealing with nationals from the Baltic states, the Balkans and Central Europe. In June 1943, he left MI5 and was later commissioned into the Intelligence Corps on 9 June 1944. As a fluent speaker in French, he continued to work with MI5 on the Continent as a member of 106 Special Counter Intelligence Unit (SCIU), running double agents and acting as a liaison officer to the counter-espionage section of the French Intelligence Service. He also reported to the ‘212’ Committee’, the Allied equivalent of MI5’s ‘XX Committee’ ('Double Cross Committee'). At the close of hostilities, he was employed in the Political Division of the Control Commissions for both Germany and Austria and served also in Hamburg and Berlin. In recognition of his exemplary service during the war, he received a Mention in Despatches in August 1945 and was awarded a Croix de Guerre on 1 March 1949 (en bloc).
After the war, Ramsbotham joined the diplomatic service where he rose to the level of ambassador. His posts have included Ambassador to Iran (1971–1974), Ambassador to the United States (1974–1977) and Governor of Bermuda (1977–1980).
He was appointed Companion (CMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1964, promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in 1972 (whereupon he was bestowed the honorific title 'Sir') and promoted again to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) in 1978. In 1976, he was appointed Knight Grand Cross (GCVO) of the Royal Victorian Order as well as Knight (KStJ) of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. He inherited the title of Viscount Soulbury from his elder brother in 2004 but continued to be known as Sir Peter Ramsbotham.
He died in New Alresford, Hampshire 9 April 2010.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Norman Costar |
British High Commissioner to Cyprus 1969–1971 |
Succeeded by Robert Humphrey Edmonds |
| Preceded by Sir Denis Wright |
British Ambassador to Iran 1971–1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Anthony Parsons ru:Парсонс, Энтони |
| Preceded by The Earl of Cromer |
British Ambassador to the United States 1974–1977 |
Succeeded by Peter Jay |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Edwin Leather |
Governor of Bermuda 1977–1980 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Posnett |
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by James Ramsbotham |
Viscount Soulbury 2004–2010 |
Succeeded by Oliver Peter Ramsbotham |