James Turpin

James Alexander Turpin (7 January 1917 – 3 October 2006) was a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Philippines from 1972 to 1976.

Early life and education Turpin was born on 7 January 1917 in Dublin, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. He was the son of Samuel Alexander Turpin. He was educated at The King's Hospital, Dublin and Trinity College Dublin where he was a Gold Medal winner.

Career Turpin became a lecturer at Trinity College after graduating there. During World War II, he joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers and served from 1942 to 1946. After the War, he joined the Foreign Service and his first posting was to Paris. He was then dispatched to the Embassy in Warsaw in 1950 and to the Embassy in Tokyo in 1955. From 1960 to 1963, he was seconded to the Board of Trade, and then sent to the Embassy in The Hague as commercial Counsellor remaining in the post until 1967 when he was transferred to New Delhi as Minister (Economic and Commercial). From 1971 to 1972, he was Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Economic and Commercial) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Turpin was appointed Ambassador to the Philippines in 1972 and served in the post until 1976.

Publications

New Society's Challenge in the Philippines (1980) The Philippines: Problems of the Ageing New Society (1984)

Honours Turpin was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1966 New Year Honours.