Sir Percy Loraine, 12th Baronet

Sir Percy Loraine

Sir Percy Lyham Loraine, 12th Baronet, KCMG, PC (5 November 1880 – 23 May 1961) was a British diplomat.

Early life

Educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford, Loraine fought in the Second Boer War in Southern Africa. In 1904, he joined the foreign service.

Diplomatic career

He first served in the Middle East, at the British missions in Istanbul and Tehran, where he was Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary 1921-26 , before being posted in Rome, Beijing, Paris and Madrid. He took part in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference which was held following the end of World War I, before being sent as minister in Tehran and then Athens.

In 1929, he was appointed as High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan. However, his policy of allowing King Fuad I to control the government led to his removal in 1933.

He became close to Turkish President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk while serving in Ankara, which improved the relations between the two countries. While ambassador, Loraine visited Ataturk on his deathbed and later gave a BBC broadcast paying tribute to Ataturk on the 10th anniversary of his death.

He was the last British ambassador to Italy before the start of World War II. Loraine was reputedly nicknamed 'pompous Percy' by his staff. Winston Churchill did not seek his advice on Middle Eastern matters during the war, and he retired from public life.

Personal life

Sir Percy's friends included Gertrude Bell, fellow diplomat Sir Lancelot Oliphant, and Sir Arnold Wilson. He took an interest in horse racing and thoroughbred horse breeding.

Sir Percy died childless and the Baronetcy died with him.

References

General

• Goldschmidt, Arthur (2000). Biographical Dictionary of Modern Egypt. American University in Cairo Press. p. 113. ISBN 9789774245794. OCLC 237384904. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=p3J6IS8t74QC&pg=PA113. 
• Monroe, Elizabeth; rev. Peter Neville (September 2004). "Percy Loraine" (subscription required). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/34597. http://www.oxforddnb.com/index/101034597. Retrieved 2009-05-03. 

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Herman Norman	British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Iran 1921 – 1926	Succeeded by Sir Robert Clive
Preceded by Sir Milne Cheetham	British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Greece 1926 – 1929	Succeeded by Hon. Patrick Ramsay
Preceded by George Lloyd	British High Commissioner to Egypt 1929 – 1933	Succeeded by Miles Lampson
Preceded by George Clerk	British Ambassador to Turkey 1933 – 1939	Succeeded by Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen
Preceded by Sir Eric Drummond	British Ambassador to Italy 1939 – 1940	Suspended World War II Title next held by Sir Noel Charles
Baronetage of England
Preceded by Sir Lambton Loraine	Loraine Baronets 1917 – 1961	Extinct