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David Goodall

1931 – 2016

British diplomat

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About David Goodall

Lived 1931 – 2016 (aged 84). David Goodall was a British diplomat and painter.

Sir Arthur David Saunders Goodall, (9 October 1931 – 22 July 2016) was a British diplomat. He was High Commissioner to India from 1987 to 1991.

Early life Goodall was born on 9 October 1931 in Blackpool, Lancashire. His paternal grandfather was from Wexford, Ireland. He was educated at Ampleforth College in North Yorkshire, and Trinity College, Oxford where he gained first class honours.

Military service Goodall was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the 1950s, he served in Kenya and Cyprus.

After his retirement he was Chairman of the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, 1995–2000, and President of the Irish Genealogical Research Society, 1992–2010.

During the 1980s, Goodall was one of the most senior British officials representing the United Kingdom negotiating with the Irish government on Northern Ireland.

Goodall was a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (KSG).

He died on 22 July 2016 at the age of 84.

Art Goodall was taught to paint at Ampleforth College, but started to paint seriously some twenty years later after reading Winston Churchill's book Painting as a Pastime. He worked in ink and watercolour, and held one-man shows in North Yorkshire, London, Durham, Hull and Delhi. He published two books of his paintings: Remembering India (1997, Scorpion Cavendish; ) and Ryedale Pilgrimage (2000, Maxiprint; ).

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Trinity College, Ampleforth College
Positions held
High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to India
Employers
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Awards
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Also known as
Sir Arthur David Saunders Goodall

People in David Goodall's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped David Goodall's

Frequently asked questions

Who was David Goodall?

British diplomat (1931-2016)

When was David Goodall born?

David Goodall was born on 9 October 1931.

When did David Goodall die?

David Goodall died on 22 July 2016.

What was David Goodall's occupation?

David Goodall was a diplomat and painter.

What nationality was David Goodall?

David Goodall was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: David Goodall

· Wikidata: Q5234222

· DBpedia: David Goodall (diplomat)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). David Goodall. https://biography.guide/david-goodall-diplomat/

MLA: "David Goodall." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/david-goodall-diplomat/.

Chicago: "David Goodall." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/david-goodall-diplomat/.

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