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David Hunt | |
|---|---|
 Hunt in 1953 | |
| British Ambassador to Brazil | |
| In office 1969 (1969) – 1973 (1973) | |
| Preceded by | John Russell |
| Succeeded by | Derek Dodson |
| British High Commissioner to Nigeria | |
| In office 1967 (1967) – 1969 (1969) | |
| Preceded by | Francis Cumming-Bruce |
| Succeeded by | Leslie Glass |
| British High Commissioner to Cyprus | |
| In office 1965 (1965) – 1967 (1967) | |
| Preceded by | Alec Bishop |
| Succeeded by | Norman Costar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Wathen Stather Hunt (1913-09-25)25 September 1913 |
| Died | 30 July 1998(1998-07-30) (aged 84) |
| Alma mater | Wadham College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Sir David Wathen Stather HuntKCMG OBE (25 September 1913 – 30 July 1998) was a British diplomat, perhaps best remembered as winner of theBBC'sMastermind television quiz in 1977.[1]
Hunt was born inDurham, and studied atWadham College, Oxford. He served with distinction inWorld War II, he received hisOBE in 1943 and entered the diplomatic service in 1947.[1] He served asPrivate Secretary toprime ministersClement Attlee andWinston Churchill from 1950 to 1952, then becameDeputy High Commissioner for the UK inLahore,Pakistan. In 1956, Hunt joined theCommonwealth Relations Office as head of theCentral African Department, in 1959 he became AssistantUnder-Secretary of State and received aCMG.[1]
In 1960, Hunt was appointed Deputy High Commissioner for the UK inLagos,Federation of Nigeria, in 1962 he becameHigh Commissioner inUganda, receiving aKCMG in 1963, which entails aknighthood. From 1965 to 1967 he was theBritish High Commissioner toCyprus.[1]
From 1967 to 1969, he served asHigh Commissioner to Nigeria. In this capacity, Hunt was criticized for his and theWilson governments actions during theNigerian Civil War by opposition politicians and journalists, among themFrederick Forsyth, who covered the conflict on the ground.[1][2]
Subsequently, beginning in 1969, Hunt wasBritish Ambassador to Brazil, retiring in 1973. In 1975, he publishedOn the spot: an ambassador remembers about his tenure in Brazil.[1]
Hunt was appointed chairman of the Governors of theCommonwealth Institute in 1973.[3][4] He joined theboard of directors ofThe Observer around 1977.[1][4] In addition to writing, Hunt was a frequent reviewer forThe Times Literary Supplement.[1] He later served as President of theSociety for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies from 1986-1990.[5][1]
Hunt won theMastermind title in 1977 and was runner-up in theMastermind International of 1979 (won byJohn Mulcahy of Ireland).[1]
In 1982, aChampion of Champions tournament among the first tenMastermind champions was televised. Hunt won the overall title with his specialist subject ofAlexander the Great.[1][4]
Hunt married Pamela Medawar in 1948, they had two sons together. In 1968, he married Iro Myrianthousis, who outlived him.[1]
1943:Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1959:Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)
1963:Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG, knighthood)
Hunt had a number of books published:
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by TBA | Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister 1950-1952 | Succeeded by |
