Dick Hichens-Bergström

Per Richard "Dick" Hichens-Bergström (13 August 1913 – 9 May 1989) was a Swedish diplomat was a Swedish diplomat with a long career in international service. After earning a law degree from Uppsala University in 1937, he began his career in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as an attaché, serving in San Francisco and Washington, D.C., where he later became legation secretary. He also undertook a special assignment for the Swedish Central Bank during World War II.

He advanced through the ministry, becoming second secretary in 1944 and first secretary in 1946, with postings in Paris, Bern, and Moscow. During this period, he participated in aviation negotiations with the Soviet Union, represented Sweden at the United Nations General Assembly, and undertook various missions in Geneva. He also lectured at the Swedish National Defence College and acted as adviser at Nordic Foreign Ministers Meetings.

Hichens-Bergström held senior positions at the Foreign Ministry, including director (1953–1956) and deputy head of the political department (1956–1959). He served as ambassador to Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan (1959–1963), head of the political department at the Foreign Ministry (1964–1967), and later as ambassador to Norway (1968–1973) and Italy and Malta (1973–1979). He chaired the Swedish delegation at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe and served as Sweden’s permanent representative to the FAO, while also providing consultancy for Swedish industry.

Early life and family Hichens-Bergström was born on 13 August 1913 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of the high councillor and his wife Jenny (née Glimstedt). He was the brother of the opera singer . His grandfather was the folklorist , and grandfather was court justice . was his uncle.

Hichens-Bergström received a Candidate of Law degree from Uppsala University in 1937.

Career Hichens-Bergström completed his clerkship at Södersysslets Judicial District (Södersysslets domsaga) from 1937 to 1938.

In 1944, Hichens-Bergström was appointed second secretary at the Foreign Ministry and promoted to first secretary in 1946. He served as first embassy secretary in Paris in 1948, Bern in 1949, and Moscow in 1951, acting as embassy counsellor there in 1952. During this period, he represented Sweden in aviation negotiations with the Soviet Union and other countries from 1945 to 1947, served as secretary of the Swedish delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in 1947 and 1948, and worked with the Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1948. He also carried out various missions in Geneva in 1950, 1951, and 1954–1958, and acted as secretary and adviser at the Nordic Foreign Ministers Meetings from 1953 to 1956. Between 1953 and 1959, he lectured at the Swedish National Defence College. to Ingrid Bredenberg (1914–2013). In 1961 he married the journalist (1919–1970) and in 1972 he married Ann Angell-Sandnes.

Death Hichens-Bergström died on 9 May 1989 in Nice, France. A memorial service was held on 29 May 1989 in Gustaf Adolf Church in Stockholm. On 5 June 1989, he was interred in the family grave at Norra begravningsplatsen in Solna Municipality.

Awards

50px Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav (1 July 1959)