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Bernard Ledwidge

1915 – 1998

British diplomat (1915-1998). Counsellor/Political Adviser, Berlin 1959-1961, Head of Western Department, Foreign Office 1963-1965, Minister, France 1965-1969, Ambassador to Finland 1969-1972, Ambassador to Israel 1972-1975

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About Bernard Ledwidge

Lived 1915 – 1998 (aged 82). Bernard Ledwidge was a diplomat.

Sir William Bernard John Ledwidge, (9 November 1915 – 20 February 1998) was a British diplomat and writer. Ledwidge served as the British Ambassador to Finland from 1969 to 1972 and the British Ambassador to Israel from 1972 to 1975. Ledwidge also served as the Chairman of the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF from 1976 to 1989.

Early life William Bernard John Ledwidge was born on 9 November 1915 in London, United Kingdom to Charles Ledwidge and Eileen O'Sullivan.

Ledwidge was educated at Cardinal Vaughan School, a Roman Catholic day school in Holland Park, London.

Ambassador to Finland Ledwidge was appointed the British Ambassador to Finland in 1969, succeeding Sir David Scott Fox.

Ambassador to Israel Ledwidge was appointed the British Ambassador to Israel in 1972, succeeding Anthony Elliott.

He left this appointment in 1975.

Death Ledwidge died on 20 February 1998 in London, United Kingdom.

Personal life Ledwidge married his first wife, Anne Kingsley, in 1948. They had two children together, a son and a daughter. The marriage was dissolved in 1970. He married his second wife, Flora Groult, in 1970. He was a member of the Travellers Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
King's College, Cambridge, Princeton University
Positions held
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Finland, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Israel
Employers
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Also known as
Sir William Bernard John Ledwidge

Family & relationships

Spouse
Flora Groult

People in Bernard Ledwidge's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Bernard Ledwidge's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Bernard Ledwidge?

British diplomat (1915-1998). Counsellor/Political Adviser, Berlin 1959-1961, Head of Western Department, Foreign Office 1963-1965, Minister, France 1965-1969, Ambassador to Finland 1969-1972, Ambassador to Israel 1972-1975

When was Bernard Ledwidge born?

Bernard Ledwidge was born on 9 November 1915 in London.

When did Bernard Ledwidge die?

Bernard Ledwidge died on 20 February 1998 in London.

What was Bernard Ledwidge's occupation?

Bernard Ledwidge was a diplomat.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Bernard Ledwidge

· Wikidata: Q56872415

· DBpedia: Bernard Ledwidge

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bernard Ledwidge. https://biography.guide/bernard-ledwidge/

MLA: "Bernard Ledwidge." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bernard-ledwidge/.

Chicago: "Bernard Ledwidge." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bernard-ledwidge/.

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