Howard Smith (diplomat)

Sir
Howard Smith
GCMG
Sir Howard Smith GCMG
Born	15 October 1919
Died	7 May 1996 (aged 76)
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Occupation(s)	Intelligence officer, Diplomat
	Espionage activity
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service branch	MI5
Service years	1979–1981
Rank	Director General of MI5

Sir Howard Frank Trayton Smith, GCMG (15 October 1919 – 7 May 1996) was a British diplomat.

Career

Educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge,^[1] Smith worked at Bletchley Park during World War II and later became the British ambassador to Moscow.^[2] At college in Cambridge, Smith was a contemporary of Asa Briggs, playing chess with him and recommending Briggs to fellow Cambridge mathematician Gordon Welchman for service in Hut 6.^[3]

In 1978 Smith was unexpectedly^{[clarification needed]} appointed Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, by Prime Minister James Callaghan, serving until 1981.^[1]

^ ^a ^b Obituary: Sir Howard Smith The Independent, 10 May 1996
^ Derek Taunt, "Breaking German Naval Enigma", p. 111 in Action this Day, edited by Ralph Erskine and Michael Smith, 2001, ISBN 0-593-04982-9.
^ Jones, Nigel (15 March 2016). "Asa Briggs obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 March 2016.

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Michael Hanley	Director General of MI5 1978 – 1981	Succeeded by Sir John Jones

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