Owen O'Malley

Ambassador to Hungary
In office
1939–1941
Monarch George VI
Preceded by The Viscount Chilston
Succeeded by Sir Alexander Knox Helm
Personal details
Born 1887 (1887)
Died 1974
Nationality British

Sir Owen St Clair O'Malley KCMG (May 4, 1887 – April 16, 1974) was a British diplomat. He was Minister to Hungary between 1939 and 1941. He was British ambassador to the Polish government in exile in London during the World War II. From July 1945 until May 1947, he was Ambassador to Portugal.

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Background and education

Owen O'Malley was born in Eastbourne, southern England, the son of Sir Edward O'Malley.[1] He was educated at Rugby School, Radley College, and Magdalen College at the University of Oxford. He was married on 25 October 1913 to Mary Dolling Sanders (1889–1974), who was a novelist under the pseudonym of Ann Bridge. They had two daughters and one son. He returned to his ancestral home in County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland, where he died in 1974.

Diplomatic career

O'Malley entered the foreign office in 1911. He was appointed ambassador to the Polish government-in-exile in February 1943. He is particularly noted for his incisive report sent on 24 May 1943 to the foreign secretary, Anthony Eden on the Katyn Massacre indicating the likelihood of Soviet guilt and the moral issues raised.[2]

He was awarded a CMG in 1927 and a KCMG in 1947.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Who's Who 1956 (108th ed.). London: Adam and Charles Black. 1956. p. 2245. 
  2. ^ Rees, Laurence, World War II: Behind Closed Doors — Stalin, the Nazis and the West, pp. 188–189, BBC Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-56-349335-8.

Bibliography

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