Dominic Asquith

The Honourable Dominic Anthony Gerard Asquith CMG (b. 7 February 1957) is a British diplomat. He was British Ambassador to Iraq between 2006 and 2007 and has been British Ambassador to Egypt since 2007.

Background and education

Asquith is the younger son of the 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith by his wife the late Anne Palairet (d. 1998), and a great-grandson of H.H. Asquith, a former British Prime Minister. Asquith's elder brother Raymond, father Lord Oxford, and maternal grandfather Sir Michael Palairet, all served as British diplomats. Like his father and brother, he was educated at Ampleforth.

Diplomatic career

Asquith has been a diplomat since 1983. In December 2007 he became British Ambassador to Egypt. He was previously British Ambassador to Iraq.^[1]

Asquith has served for many years in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq. He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 2004.^[2]

On December 4, 2009, Asquith gave evidence to The Iraq Inquiry.^[3]

Career highlights

• 1983-1984 Diplomat, Soviet Dept
• 1984-1985 Diplomat, Southern Europe Dept
• 1986-1987 Second Secretary, Damascus, Syria
• 1987-1989 First Secretary (Chancery), Muscat
• 1989-1990 Diplomat, EC Dept (Internal) Dept
• 1990-1992 Private Secretary to Minister of State FCO
• 1992-1996 First Secretary, Washington DC, USA
• 1996 Drugs and International Crime Dept FCO
• 1997-2001 Minister and Dep Head of Mission, Buenos Aires
• 2001-2004 Deputy Head of Mission and Consul-General, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• 2004 Deputy Special Representative for Iraq, and Deputy Head of Mission, Baghdad, Iraq
• 2004-2006 Director Iraq, FCO
• 2006-2007 HM Ambassador to Iraq
• 2007–2011 HM Ambassador to Egypt
• 2011–Present UK Special Representative to Libya

Family

Asquith is married since 1988 to the former Louise Cotton, who had worked as a secretary in the British Foreign Office and resigned upon her marriage. They have two sons (b. 1992 and 1994) and two daughters (b. 1989 and 1990).

References

1. ^ HM Ambassador to Iraq, Dominic Asquith CMG
2. ^ Honours and Awards
3. ^ "'Defining moment' as US revealed Iraq plans". BBC News (BBC). 4 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8394683.stm. Retrieved 28 January 2010. 

• "Change of Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq". Retrieved 25 May 2008.
• Who's Who, 2007 edition.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by William Patey	British Ambassador to Iraq 2006–2007	Succeeded by Christopher Prentice
Preceded by Sir Derek Plumbly	British Ambassador to Egypt since 2007	Incumbent

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Name	Asquith, Dominic
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