Antony Duff
The Right Honourable Sir Antony Duff | |
---|---|
Born | 25 February 1920 |
Died | 13 August 2000 | (aged 80)
Nationality | British |
Occupation(s) | Intelligence officer, Civil servant |
Spouse | Pauline Sword |
Espionage activity | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service branch | MI5 |
Service years | 1985–1988 |
Rank | Director-General of MI5 |
Sir Arthur Antony Duff GCMG, CVO, DSO, DSC (25 February 1920 – 13 August 2000) was Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1985 to 1988.
Career
Educated at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Duff started his career in the Royal Navy where he was a submarine commander during World War II: he briefly commanded Otway and L23 in 1942 before commanding HMS Stubborn from December 1942 to July 1944.[1]
After the war Duff joined the Diplomatic Service in 1946 and served in several postings including British Ambassador to Nepal 1964–65 and High Commissioner to Kenya 1972–75. Having led the British official delegation to the Lancaster House talks, he became Deputy Governor of Southern Rhodesia (under Lord Soames as Governor) in 1979–80, after which appointment he was sworn of the Privy Council, the first diplomat to be so honoured since Sir Alexander Cadogan in 1940.
Duff was Deputy Secretary at the Cabinet Office with responsibility for security matters in 1980–84, and then Director General of the Security Service (MI5) from 1985 to 1988.
After his retirement Duff worked as a volunteer in a centre for the homeless and was a board member of Homeless Network in London.[2]
References
- ^ Lt. Arthur Anthony Duff DSO, DSC, uboat.net
- ^ Obituary: Sir Antony Duff, The Guardian, 18 August 2000
- Andrew, Christopher (2010). Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-102330-4.
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1920 births
- 2000 deaths
- Chairs of the Joint Intelligence Committee (United Kingdom)
- Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Nepal
- High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Kenya
- Directors-General of MI5
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Members of HM Diplomatic Service
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
- Royal Navy officers of World War II
- Royal Navy submarine commanders
- British government biography stubs