David Petrie
Sir David Petrie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 September 1879 Inveravon, Banffshire |
| Died | 7 August 1961 (aged 81) Sidmouth, Devon |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Aberdeen University |
| Occupation(s) | Intelligence officer, Police officer |
| Espionage activity | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom  |
| Service branch | MI5 |
| Rank | Director General of MI5 |
Sir David Petrie KCMG CIE CVO CBE KPM (9 September 1879 – 7 August 1961) was director general (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1941 to 1946. He was described as "a rugged and kindly Scot, with...immense physical and moral strength".[1]
Biography
Petrie worked in the Indian Police between 1900 and 1936. His highest level in India was to chair the Indian Public Service Commission. In April 1941, he was appointed Director general of MI5. His task was to reorganize the service so that it could improve the efficiency. In the spring of 1946, Petrie retired.[2]
References
Notes
- ^ The Times, Obituary, 8 August 1961
- ^ "Sir David Petrie (1879–1961)". MI5. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
Sources
- R. Popplewell, Intelligence and imperial defence: British intelligence and the defence of the Indian empire, 1904–1924, 1995
- F. H. Hinsley and C. A. G. Simkins, British intelligence in the Second World War, 4: Security and counter-intelligence, 1990
- D. Petrie, Communism in India, 1924–27, 1972
- T. Bower, The perfect English spy: Sir Dick White and the secret war, 1935–90, 1995
Categories:
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1879 births
- 1961 deaths
- Directors-General of MI5
- Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
- Indian Police Service officers in British India
- Intelligence Corps officers
- British military personnel of the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine
- People from Banffshire
- Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Knights of Grace of the Order of St John