Patrick Nairne

Sir Patrick Dalmahoy Nairne, (15 August 1921 – 4 June 2013 ) was a senior British civil servant. His career started in the Admiralty. He eventually became Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Security and Master of St Catherine's College, Oxford (1981–88). Nairne was a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, appointed in 1982 when he became a member of Lord Franks' official inquiry into the Falklands War, and a governor of the Ditchley Foundation. He was an Honorary Fellow of University College, Oxford. Nairne was the first Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics from 1991 to 1996.

Nairne was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1971 Birthday Honours, promoted to Knight Commander of the Order (KCB) in the 1975 Birthday Honours, and to Knight Grand Cross of the Order (GCB) in the 1981 Birthday Honours.

Family Nairne's six children include Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, and Andrew Nairne, Director of Kettle's Yard, Cambridge.