- In full:
- Peter Alexander Rupert Carington, 6th Baron Carrington of Upton, Baron Carrington of Bulcot Lodge
- Born:
- June 6, 1919, London, England
- Died:
- July 9, 2018 (aged 99)
- Title / Office:
- foreign minister (1979-1982), United Kingdom
- Political Affiliation:
- Conservative Party
Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington
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Who was Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington?
Peter Carington, the 6th Baron Carrington Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington (1919–2018), was a British Conservative politician. After serving in World War II, he became a junior agricultural minister under Winston Churchill. He served as high commissioner to Australia and then entered Alec Douglas-Home’s cabinet in 1963.
Under Margaret Thatcher in 1979, he became foreign secretary, negotiating Zimbabwe's independence. Carrington resigned in 1982 after misjudging Argentina's intentions regarding the Falkland Islands. From 1984 to 1988, he served as secretary-general of NATO, emphasizing communication with the Soviet Union. In the early 1990s, he was involved in negotiations to dissolve Yugoslavia peacefully. In 1999, he was made a life peer after hereditary peers were removed from the House of Lords.
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What does it mean to be a British statesman?
A British statesman is a political leader respected for their wisdom, skill, and active role in shaping government policies. Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington (1919–2018), was a British politician and statesman who served as secretary-general of NATO from 1984 to 1988.
Carrington held various posts in Conservative governments, including foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher. His diplomatic skills led to Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. Despite resigning after misjudging Argentina's intentions regarding the Falkland Islands, his acceptance of responsibility was widely praised. Carrington's focus as NATO secretary-general was on communication with the Soviet Union.
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What important government positions did Peter Carrington hold?
Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, held many significant government positions, including secretary-general of NATO from 1984 to 1988. Earlier in his career, he was a junior agricultural minister under Winston Churchill and high commissioner to Australia from 1956 to 1959. In 1963, he entered Alec Douglas-Home’s cabinet, and in 1970, with the Conservatives back in power, he became defense secretary. Later, in 1974, he served as energy secretary. In 1979, under Margaret Thatcher, Carrington became foreign secretary, a position he resigned from in 1982.
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How did Peter Carrington contribute to British foreign policy?
As foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher, Peter Carrington (1919–2018) significantly shaped British foreign policy. His diplomatic skills led to Zimbabwe's negotiated independence, ending its civil war (1979–80). Carrington also focused on the Middle East and sought peaceful resolutions to Britain’s remaining colonial issues.
Carrington resigned in 1982 after misjudging Argentina's intentions regarding the Falkland Islands War. Later, he became NATO's secretary-general in 1984, prioritizing communication with the Soviet Union to restore public confidence in NATO. In the early 1990s, Carrington was involved in negotiations for the peaceful dissolution of Yugoslavia.
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What role did Peter Carrington play during international conflicts or major events?
Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington, served in pivotal roles during significant international events. As foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher, he skillfully negotiated Zimbabwe's independence, resolving its civil war in 1979–80. Despite resigning after misjudging Argentina's intentions regarding the Falkland Islands, his acceptance of responsibility was commended. From 1984 to 1988, as NATO secretary-general, he stressed communication with the Soviet Union to restore public confidence in NATO. In the early 1990s, he engaged in negotiations for the peaceful dissolution of Yugoslavia.
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How has Peter Carrington’s legacy influenced British politics today?
Peter Carrington, the 6th Baron Carrington held significant posts, such as foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher and secretary-general of NATO. As foreign secretary, his diplomatic skills led to Zimbabwe's independence. Despite his resignation after misjudging Argentina's intentions regarding the Falkland Islands, his acceptance of responsibility was highly praised. Carrington's emphasis as NATO secretary-general on communication with the Soviet Union highlights his commitment to international diplomacy. His involvement in attempting to dissolve Yugoslavia peacefully further demonstrates his dedication to conflict resolution.
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Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington (born June 6, 1919, London, England—died July 9, 2018) was a British politician who was secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) from 1984 to 1988. He previously held posts in the administrations of various Conservative prime ministers, notably serving as foreign secretary (1979–82) under Margaret Thatcher.
He was born Peter Alexander Rupert Carington; the family’s name was spelled Carington but their hereditary title was spelled Carrington. After graduating from Eton College, he attended the Royal Military Academy (Sandhurst). Following his father’s death in 1938, Peter assumed his title and later took his seat in the House of Lords. Carrington served in World War II and was awarded the Military Cross (1945). He subsequently became a junior agricultural minister under Winston Churchill. In 1954 he was involved in the Crichel Down affair, in which the Department of Agriculture was heavily criticized for failing to return land that it had acquired by compulsory purchase during the war. The department’s secretary stepped down, but Carrington’s resignation was rejected by Churchill.
Carrington served as high commissioner to Australia from 1956 until 1959, when Harold Macmillan appointed him first lord of the Admiralty. In 1963 he entered Alec Douglas-Home’s cabinet and, after the Conservative defeat in the general election of 1964, led the opposition in the House of Lords. With the Conservatives back in power in 1970, he became defense secretary and in 1974, in the last days of the Edward Heath government, energy secretary.
When a Conservative government under Margaret Thatcher was formed in 1979, Carrington became foreign secretary. His charm and diplomatic skills enabled him to achieve a negotiated independence for Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and an end to the bloody civil war there in 1979–80. He then turned his attention to the Middle East and at the same time sought negotiated solutions to Britain’s residual colonial problems. In April 1982 he resigned his post after misreading the intentions of the Argentine government regarding the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas; see Falkland Islands War). Although an inquiry later found him to be not at fault, his acceptance of responsibility drew high praise.
Carrington became secretary-general of NATO in June 1984. He emphasized the importance of communication with the Soviet Union, believing that issue to be central to the restoration of public confidence in NATO. After leaving the organization in 1988, Carrington remained active. In the early 1990s he notably was involved in negotiations to secure the peaceful dissolution of Yugoslavia, though the plan he helped draft was ultimately rejected. In 1999 hereditary peers were removed from the House of Lords, and Carrington was subsequently made a life peer. He wrote the memoir Reflect on Things Past (1988).