About Arnold Smith
Lived 1915 – 1994 (aged 79). Arnold Smith was a Canadian diplomat.
Arnold Cantwell Smith (January 18, 1915 – February 7, 1994) was a Canadian diplomat. He was the first Commonwealth Secretary-General, serving from 1965 to 1975.
A talented student, he won a Rhodes Scholarship to Christ Church, Oxford.
From 1958 to 1961, he was the Canadian Ambassador to Egypt. From 1961 to 1963, he was the Canadian Ambassador to the USSR. During his time at the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth flag was designed on his and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's initiative.
In 1975 he was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour. In 1984, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada for "a long and distinguished diplomatic career".
Arnold Smith was the elder brother of Wilfred Cantwell Smith.
His published work includes Stitches In Time; the Commonwealth in World Politics.
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Important facts
People in Arnold Smith's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Arnold Smith?
Canadian diplomat (1915-1994)
When was Arnold Smith born?
Arnold Smith was born on 18 January 1915 in Toronto.
When did Arnold Smith die?
Arnold Smith died on 7 February 1994 in Toronto.
What was Arnold Smith's occupation?
Arnold Smith was a diplomat.
What nationality was Arnold Smith?
Arnold Smith was Canadian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Arnold Smith. https://biography.guide/arnold-smith/
MLA: "Arnold Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/arnold-smith/.
Chicago: "Arnold Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/arnold-smith/.
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