Frederick Millar, 1st Baron Inchyra

Frederick Robert Hoyer Millar, 1st Baron Inchyra GCMG CVO (6 June 1900 – 16 October 1989), was a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to West Germany from 1955 to 1956.

The Lord Inchyra
Millar (first left) as U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the North Atlantic Treaty (1949)
British Ambassador to West Germany
In office
1955–1956
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterAnthony Eden
Preceded byoffice created
Succeeded byChristopher Steel
British High Commissioner at Allied High Commission
In office
29 September 1953 – 5 May 1955
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterSir Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden
Preceded byIvone Kirkpatrick
Succeeded byoffice abolished
Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
In office
1957–1962
Prime MinisterSir Anthony Eden and Harold Macmillan
Preceded byIvone Kirkpatrick
Succeeded byHarold Caccia
Personal details
Born6 June 1900
Died16 October 1989
Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland
NationalityBritish
EducationDownside School
ProfessionDiplomat

Background and early career

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The son of Robert Hoyer Millar, he was educated at Wellington and New College, Oxford. Millar entered the Diplomatic Service in 1923,[1][2] becoming Second Secretary in 1928[3] and First Secretary in 1935.[4] He served in various capacities at the British embassies in Berlin, Paris and Cairo and at the Foreign Office. From 1934 to 1938 he was Assistant Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary (Sir John Simon, Sir Samuel Hoare and Anthony Eden respectively).

Senior diplomatic appointments

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During the Second World War he served chiefly at the British embassy in Washington D.C., where he was also Minister Plenipotentiary from 1948 to 1950. Millar was also the United Kingdom Deputy at the North Atlantic Council from 1950 to 1952 and its Representative thereon from 1952 to 1953. The latter year Millar was appointed High Commissioner to the British Zone of occupied Germany, a post he held until 1955, and was then Ambassador to West Germany from 1955 to 1956. After his return to Britain he served as Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1957 to 1962.[citation needed]

Honours and personal life

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Millar was made a KCMG in 1949 and a GCMG in 1956, and in 1962 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Inchyra, of St Madoes in the County of Perth.[5] He was appointed King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1961.[6]

Lord Inchyra married in 1931 Jonkvrouw Anna Judith Elisabeth de Marees van Swinderen (1906–1999), daughter of Jonkheer René de Marees van Swinderen, Dutch former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1908–1913) and Ambassador in London (1913–1937). They had four children, two sons and two daughters. Their older daughter Elizabeth married Billy Wallace in 1965.[7]

Their younger daughter, Dame Annabel Whitehead, was a Lady-in-Waiting to Princess Margaret and later to the Queen.[8]

His granddaughter Martha Hoyer Millar was married to Conservative Party politician Matt Hancock.

Arms

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Coat of arms of Frederick Millar, 1st Baron Inchyra
Crest
A cubit arm the hand erect and in the act of blessing Proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly 1st Or a cross moline Azure and base barry undy Gules and Vert on a chief of the third a lozenge of the first between two spur-revels also of the first (Millar) 2nd per bend Argent and Vert a lion passant Gules (Hoyer) 3rd Azure a chevron Argent between two spur-revels in chief and a demi-moon reversed Or (van Swinderden) 4th Azure a cross Argent cantoned between four roses Or (de Marees).
Supporters
Two blackcock Proper.
Motto
Manent Optima Corlo (The Best Awaits In Heaven)[9]

Death

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Lord Inchyra died in October 1989, aged 89. He was succeeded in the Barony by his elder son, Robert, the 2nd Baron Inchyra.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by British High Commissioner at Allied High Commission
1953–1955
Succeeded by
Himself
as Ambassador
Preceded by
Himself
as High Commissioner
British Ambassador to West Germany
1955–1956
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office
1957–1962
Succeeded by
Heraldic offices
Preceded by King of Arms of the
Order of St Michael and St George

1962–1975
Succeeded by
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Inchyra
1962–1989
Succeeded by

References

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  1. ^ "No. 32877". The London Gazette. 6 November 1923. p. 7565.
  2. ^ "No. 32879". The London Gazette. 13 November 1923. p. 7760.
  3. ^ "No. 33442". The London Gazette. 27 November 1928. p. 7770.
  4. ^ "No. 34133". The London Gazette. 15 February 1935. p. 1091.
  5. ^ "No. 42588". The London Gazette. 2 February 1962. p. 877.
  6. ^ "No. 42533". The London Gazette. 8 December 1961. p. 8871.
  7. ^ "Billy Wallace weds 1965". British Pathe.
  8. ^ "Ladies in Waiting and Equerries". Official website of the Royal Family.
  9. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 2019. p. 3138.