John Robert Williams

Sir John Robert Williams (15 September 1922 – 21 March 2000) was a British diplomat who served as high commissioner of the United Kingdom to Fiji from 1970 to 1974 and high commissioner of the United Kingdom to Kenya from 1979 to 1982.

Early life and education

Williams was born on 15 September 1922, the son of Sydney James Williams, an engineer. He was educated at Sheen County School and, after World War II, at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he took a first in archaeology and anthropology.

Williams served during World War II with the Ist Battalion, King’s African Rifles in East Africa and in the Burma campaign, and was demobilised with the rank of captain.

After working in the Diplomatic Service Inspectorate, he was appointed the first high commissioner to newly independent Fiji, a post he held from 1970 to 1974, and then served as minister in Nigeria from 1974 to 1979 while also serving as non-resident ambassador and consul-general for Benin. After a brief spell working as assistant under-secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (West and East Africa), he was appointed high commissioner to Kenya in 1979, a post he held until his retirement in 1982. and promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1982 Birthday Honours.