Robert Hankey, 2nd Baron Hankey

Robert Maurice Alers Hankey, 2nd Baron Hankey, KCMG, KCVO (4 July 1905 – 28 October 1996) was a British diplomat and public servant.

The Right Honourable The Lord Hankey KCMG KCVO
British Ambassador to Sweden
In office 1954–1960
Preceded by	Sir Roger Stevens
Succeeded by	Sir John Coulson
Personal details
Born	4 July 1905
Died	28 October 1996 (aged 91)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	(1) Frances Stuart-Menteth (d. 1957) (2) Joanna Wright (d.1991)
Alma mater	New College, Oxford

Background and education

Hankey was the eldest son of Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey, and Adeline, daughter of Abraham de Smidt, of South Africa. He was educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford.[1]

Diplomatic career

Hankey was appointed to be a Third Secretary in 1928,[2] a Second Secretary in 1932,[3] and a First Secretary in 1939.[4] He then served as the Envoy to Hungary from 1951 to 1953[5] and the Ambassador to Sweden between 1954 and 1960.[6]

Hankey was a delegate to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation (renamed the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1961) between 1960 and 1965.[7] He succeeded his father in the barony in 1963 and became a very active member of the House of Lords, speaking 552 times between 1965 and his last speech in December 1991 at the age of 86.[8] Hankey was also involved in business and served as a director of the Alliance Building Society from 1970 to 1983. He was president of the Anglo-Swedish Society around 1970.[9]

Family

Lord Hankey was twice married. He married firstly Frances Bevyl, daughter of Walter Erskine Stuart-Menteth, in 1930. They had two sons and two daughters. After her death in 1957 he married secondly Joanna, daughter of Reverend James Johnstone Wright, in 1962.[10] Lord Hankey died in October 1996, aged 91,[11] and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son, Donald. He was also father of Adele Änggård.

Honours

Hankey was appointed to the Order of St Michael and St George as a Companion in the 1947 New Year Honours[12] and promoted to a Knight Commander of the same Order in 1955. Sir Robert was appointed to the Royal Victorian Order as a Knight Commander in 1956,[13] as well as being awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star of Sweden.[14]

References

1. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
2. "No. 14408". The Edinburgh Gazette. 13 January 1928. p. 57.
3. "No. 34006". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 December 1933. p. 8218.
4. "No. 34773". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 January 1940. p. 298.
5. "No. 39323". The London Gazette. 31 August 1951. p. 4608.
6. "No. 40132". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 March 1954. p. 1809.
7. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
8. hansard.millbankssystem.com
9. "Robert Maurice Alers Hankey, 2nd Baron Hankey, KCMG, KCVO", The Anglo-Swedish Society, retrieved 19 August 2020
10. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.
11. leighrayment.com
12. "No. 37835". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1946. p. 6.
13. "No. 40824". The London Gazette. 6 July 1956. p. 3948.
14. Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.