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Sir John Russell

1914 – 1984

British diplomat

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About Sir John Russell

Lived 1914 – 1984 (aged 69). Sir John Russell was a British diplomat.

Sir John Wriothesley Russell (22 August 1914 – 3 August 1984) was a British diplomat and ambassador.

He was the only son of Thomas Wentworth Russell, better known as Russell Pasha, who was descended from John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford.

He was educated at Eton College and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). He was part of the British Embassy in Moscow in 1941 and in 1956, also with a M.A. degree, after which he was awarded a CMG in the 1958 Birthday Honours. He was British Ambassador to Ethiopia, 1962–1966, was awarded a KCVO in 1965, being British Ambassador to Brazil, 1966–1969, GCVO in 1968, and British Ambassador to Spain, 1969 – 1974.

He was married to Aliki Diplarakou, the first Greek Miss Europe, and had a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Georgiana.

He was interviewed briefly in the famous documentary series The World At War in 1973.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
Trinity College, Eton College, Trinity College, Cambridge
Positions held
Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Brazil, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Ethiopia, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Spain
Employers
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Foreign Office
Also known as
Сэр Джон Райотесли Рассел, Сэр Джон Риотесли Рассел

Family & relationships

Spouse
Aliki Diplarakou
Parent
Thomas Wentworth Russell

People in Sir John Russell's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sir John Russell's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Sir John Russell?

British diplomat

When was Sir John Russell born?

Sir John Russell was born on 22 August 1914.

When did Sir John Russell die?

Sir John Russell died on 3 August 1984.

What was Sir John Russell's occupation?

Sir John Russell was a diplomat.

What nationality was Sir John Russell?

Sir John Russell was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sir John Russell

· Wikidata: Q7528042

· DBpedia: John Russell (diplomat)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sir John Russell. https://biography.guide/sir-john-russell/

MLA: "Sir John Russell." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sir-john-russell/.

Chicago: "Sir John Russell." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sir-john-russell/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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