Francis Cornish (diplomat)

Robert Francis Cornish<ref>The Diplomatic Service List, Stationery Office, 2006, page 137</ref> Template:Post-nominals (Template:Zh; born 18 May 1942Template:Cn) is a British former diplomat who previously served as the Foreign Office spokesman for Douglas Hurd,<ref name=doomed>Template:Cite news</ref> Senior Trade Commissioner to Hong Kong (until 1997),<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> British Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao (July to November 1997), head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's news department, and Ambassador to Israel (1998 to 2001).<ref name=doomed/>

Early life

Cornish was born on 18 May 1942 in England, Britain and educated at the Charterhouse and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1960, he began service with the British Army and was commissioned into the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1962,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and later joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (ECO) in 1968.<ref name=":0"/> From 1968 to 1969, he worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Diplomatic career

Cornish began his diplomatic career in several countries which include Malaysia in 1970 and Indonesia from 1971 to 1973.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> Posted to London from 1973 to 1976, then serving as the First Secretary at the British Embassy in Bonn, Germany from 1976 to 1980. Under the Prince of Wales, he would become his Assistant Deputy Secretary from 1980 to 1983.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> On 6 November 1983,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> he was appointed as the British High Commissioner to Brunei. He would vacate the colonial mansion where British officials have managed Brunei's affairs as a sign of independence. Nonetheless, a British Gurkha battalion will stay in the nation for a further five years to support the national defense.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> From 1986 to 1990, he became the Counsellor in Washington, and Head of British Information Services in New York.<ref name=":2" />

Cornish became the Head of News Department from 1990 to 1993, and from 1993 to 1997, he was the Senior Trade Commissioner in Hong Kong.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> From July to November 1997, he held the position of Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macao. In 1998, he would then be appointed as the British Ambassador to Israel until 2001.<ref name="doomed" />

Cornish had other diplomatic and royal postings:

• Spokesman to the Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd<ref name="doomed" />
• Handover transition advisor to Governor Chris Patten

Later life

Cornish was chairman of South West Tourism<ref name="alfresco">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> (2003–2009) and is now chairman of the Taunton Town Centre Company<ref>Paul's the new man in Taunton town centre, Somerset County Gazette, 26 March 2008</ref> and has a smallholding in the Quantocks.

Honours

In 1978 during the Queen's state visit to West Germany, he was appointed as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1984 it was redesignated as Lieutenant (LVO). In the New Year Honours of 1994, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

• File:UK Order St-Michael St-George ribbon.svg Order of St Michael and St George Companion (CMG; 1994)
• File:UK Royal Victorian Order ribbon.svg Royal Victorian Order Lieutenant (LVO; 1978)