James Plimsoll

Infobox Prime Minister
name =James Plimsoll


birth_date =birth date|1917|5|25|df=y
birth_place =Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, AUS
death_date =death date and age|1987|5|8|1917|5|25|mf=y
death_place =Hobart, Tasmania, AUS
spouse =
order =22nd Governor of Tasmania
term_start =1 October 1982
term_end =8 May 1987
successor =Guy Green
predecessor =Stanley Burbury|

Sir James Plimsoll AC, CBE (25 April 1917 – 8 May 1987) was an Australian diplomat and Governor of Tasmania.

Life and career

Plimsoll was born 25 April 1917 in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys' High School (1929-33). He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney 1938 and was appointed to the Bank of New South Wales as an economist. In 1941 he graduated as Bachelor of Arts, also from the University of Sydney.

With the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces in 1942. During the War he was attached to the Directorate of Research and Civil Affairs. In 1945 he was a member of the Australian delegation to the Far Eastern Commission, established to oversee the Allied Council for Japan, which was responsible for the Japanese occupation. At the end of the war, he was on the staff of the Australian School of Pacific Administration, then with the rank of Major. [ [http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=A&VeteranID=244206 World War II Nominal Roll] ] was appointed a First Secretary of the Department of External Affairs in 1948.

Korea

He was appointed the Australian representative on the United Nations Commission for Unification and Rehabilitation of Korea (UNCURK) in 1950, during the Korean War. When UNCURK was established in October 1950 the war was expected to conclude quickly. However, by the time of its first meeting in Seoul in November, China had intervened and unification and rehabilitation was no longer possible. While other UNCURK delegates wanted to leave Korea, Plimsoll persuaded them that it was important that a high-level civilian presence should remain in Korea. UNCURK then moved to the southern city of Busan, along with the Government of the Republic of Korea and played a valuable role in communicating between the Korean Government, the UN military Command and the United Nations in New York. It also observed Korean elections.

Plimsoll had a considerable influence on President Syngman Rhee, to whom he conveyed the the views of the United Nations and the troop-contributing nations. He also expressed the Western nations' concerns about Rhee's undemocratic behaviour and abuse of human rights. [cite web
title = James Plimsoll and UNCURK
work =Out in the Cold - Australia's involvement in the Korean War
publisher =Australian War Memorial
date =
url =http://www.awm.gov.au/korea/origins/plimsoll/plimsoll.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-24]

Diplomacy

In 1953, Plimsoll returned to Department of External Affairs. He was appointed as Australia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 1959 and he became Australia's High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to Nepal in 1962. In 1965, he became head of the Department of External Affairs.

In 1970, Plimsoll was appointed as Ambassador to the United States of America, a job normally reserved in Australia for senior ex-politicians. In 1974, he became Ambassador to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He was appointed as Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Economic Community in 1977 and in 1980 became High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. His final diplomatic post was as Ambassador to Japan in 1981 and 1982.

He was described by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, in 2006 as Australia's "greatest Ambassador". [cite web
title = Australia and Europe: Sharing Global Responsibilities
work =
publisher =Australian Government
date =11 May 2006
url =http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2006/060511_schuman_lecture.html
accessdate = 2006-12-24]

Governor of Tasmania

Plimsoll became Governor of Tasmania in 1982. He was only the second bachelor to serve in the office, and, as well as pursuing a punishingly busy schedule of community engagements, took on all the patronages normally held by the Governor's spouse. He was hugely popular in the State and his appointment was extended at the end of five years. Plimsoll's sudden death in office in May 1987 was greeted with widespread mourning. He was accorded a State Funeral at St David's Cathedral in Hobart, attended by the Governor-General and four other State Governors. His remains were transported to Sydney for interment.

Awards and honours

*1956 — awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1065488&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Commander of the Order of the British Empire]
*1962 — created a Knight Bachelor [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1083622&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Knight Bachelor]
*1978 — appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia [ [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=885287&search_type=quick&showInd=true It's an Honour] - Companion of the Order of Australia]
*1982 — appointed a Knight of the Order of St John
*1984 — Admitted to degree of Doctor of Science in Economics at the University of Sydney
*1987 — Admitted to degree of Doctor of Laws at the University of Tasmania

References

*cite web
title = Papers of Sir James Plimsoll
work =
publisher =National Library of Australia
date =
url = http://www.nla.gov.au/ms/findaids/8048.html#biog
accessdate = 2006-12-24

Footnotes

Persondata
NAME=Plimsoll, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian Diplomat and Governor of Tasmania
DATE OF BIRTH= 25 April 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
DATE OF DEATH=8 May 1987
PLACE OF DEATH=Hobart, Tasmania, Australia