Mark Russell

Sir Robert Mark Russell (3 September 1929 – 11 July 2005) was a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to Turkey from 1983 to 1986.

Early life and education

Russell was born on 3 September 1929 in Scotland, the son of Sir Robert Russell who had a distinguished career in the Indian Civil Service. He was educated at Trinity College, Glenalmond and Exeter College, Oxford.

Career

After National Service with the Royal Artillery from 1952 to 1954, Russell joined the Foreign Service and spent two years in London. He was then sent to Budapest, serving as secretary from 1956 to 1958 and there witnessed the turmoil of the Hungarian Uprising. After three years as secretary in Berne, he returned to the Foreign Office where he remained from 1961 to 1965. He was then appointed secretary and head of chancery at Kabul, serving from 1965 to 1967. After serving at the diplomatic service's administration office from 1967 to 1969, he was deputy head of personnel of the operations department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1969 to 1970.

Personal life and death

Russell married Virginia Rogers in 1954 and they had two sons and two daughters. and was promoted to Knight Commander (KCMG) in the 1985 New Year Honours.