Axel Lewenhaupt

Count Axel Charles Emil Lewenhaupt (27 May 1917 – 20 November 2018) was a Swedish diplomat. Lewenhaupt began his diplomatic career as an attaché in Rome in 1943, later serving in Berlin and Helsinki before holding posts in Stockholm and Madrid during the 1950s. He rose through the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as second secretary, first secretary, and director, while also representing Sweden in international trade negotiations.

In the following decades he held senior postings abroad, including counsellor in Washington, D.C., ambassador in Léopoldville, Bangkok, New Delhi, Belgrade, Rome, and Valletta, as well as permanent representative to the FAO. He also represented Sweden at the UN General Assembly in 1973. From 1983 to 1988, he concluded his public career as Grand Master of Ceremonies at the Royal Court of Sweden.

Early life Lewenhaupt was born on 27 May 1917 in Helsingborg, Sweden, the son of Colonel, Count and his wife Baroness Elisabeth Ramel. He passed studentexamen in 1936 and his reserve officer exam in 1938 and received a Candidate of Law degree from Uppsala University in 1942 before becoming an attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1943.

Career

Diplomatic career Lewenhaupt began his diplomatic career as an attaché in Rome in 1943. During World War II, the Swedish legation in Rome took special measures to protect Swedish interests and nationals, including Elizabeth Hesselblad, who remained in the city. Particular efforts were directed towards safeguarding the Swedish Institute and the convent church of Santa Brigida.

In 1944, he served as attaché in Berlin, and from 1945 to 1947 he was stationed in Helsinki. He then returned to Stockholm, serving as second secretary at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs from 1948 to 1952. Lewenhaupt was ambassador in Bangkok, Rangoon, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore from 1967 to 1970, as well as Vientiane from 1968 to 1970, and ambassador in New Delhi, Colombo and Kathmandu from 1970 to 1975. During this period, he also represented Sweden at the United Nations General Assembly in 1973. while also serving as Sweden’s permanent representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) during the same years. From 1983 to 1988, he held the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies at the Royal Court of Sweden. and died on 20 November 2018 at the age of 101. The funeral service was held on 19 December 2018 at Gustaf Adolf Church in Stockholm. He was interred on 3 July 2019 at Galärvarvskyrkogården in Stockholm.

Awards and decorations

Commander of the Order of Merit of the Austrian Republic Swedish Red Cross badge of merit in silver (Svenska Röda Korsets förtjänsttecken i silver)