Hans Linton

Hans Krister Georg Linton (23 April 1939 – 7 July 2010) was a Swedish diplomat who joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1964 after earning a law degree. He served in Geneva and at Swedish embassies in Lima, La Paz, Buenos Aires, and Vienna, and worked in the Prime Minister's Office coordinating foreign, trade, and defence policy. He was ambassador to Peru (with accreditation to Bolivia) from 1984 to 1989, later becoming deputy director-general for legal affairs at the ministry, where he was involved in negotiations on maritime boundaries and law of the sea issues. From 1997 to 2004, he served as ambassador-at-large to several Caribbean countries.

Early life Linton was born on 23 April 1939 in Halmstad, Sweden, the son of the district clerk (häradsskrivare) Erland Linton and his wife Svenborg (née Svensson). He received a Candidate of Law degree from Stockholm University in 1963.

Career Linton joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as an attaché in 1964. In 1965, he was posted to Sweden's Permanent Delegation to the international organizations in Geneva. From 1968 to 1971, he served at the embassies in Lima and La Paz. He later worked at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and from 1971 to 1974 he was an adviser to the Nordic Council.

In 1989, he became director-general (departementsråd) at the Legal Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and in 1994 he was appointed deputy director-general for legal affairs. In August 1994, he served as Sweden's representative to the Preparatory Commission for the International Seabed Authority and for the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in New York City.

In 1997, Linton was appointed ambassador-at-large for the countries in and around the Caribbean Sea, while remaining based at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm. From 1997 to 2004, he served as ambassador to Port-au-Prince, Santo Domingo, St. George's, Castries, Kingstown, Kingston, Roseau, Basseterre, and Bridgetown. He was also accredited as ambassador to St. John's from 1999 to 2004, to Georgetown from 2000 to 2004, and to Port of Spain from 2000 to 2004.

Personal life In 1965, Linton married the civilekonom Berit Emund (born 1939), the daughter of Julius Emund and Kristina (née Engblom).

Death Linton died on 7 July 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was interred on 28 July 2010 at Bromma Cemetery.

Awards and decorations