Patrick Wright, Baron Wright of Richmond

Patrick Richard Henry Wright, Baron Wright of Richmond (28 June 1931 – 6 March 2020) was a British diplomat and former Head of HM Diplomatic Service. He sat in the House of Lords as a crossbencher from 10 February 1994 until his retirement on 17 December 2019.[2]


The Lord Wright of Richmond

Permanent Under-Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
In office
1986–1991
Preceded bySir Antony Acland
Succeeded bySir David Gillmore
British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
In office
1984–1986
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded bySir James Craig
Succeeded bySir Stephen Egerton
British Ambassador to Syria
In office
1979–1981
Prime MinisterMargaret Thatcher
Preceded byJames Craig
Succeeded byRoger Tomkys
British Ambassador to Luxembourg
In office
1977–1979
Prime MinisterJames Callaghan
Preceded bySir Antony Acland
Succeeded byJeremy Thomas
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
In office
10 February 1994 – 17 December 2019
Life peerage
Personal details
Born
Patrick Richard Henry Wright

(1931-06-28)28 June 1931
Died6 March 2020(2020-03-06) (aged 88)[1]
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)
Virginia Anne Gaffney (m. 1958)
Children3
Alma materMerton College, Oxford
Occupation
  • Diplomat

In 1977, Wright was appointed Ambassador to Luxembourg[3] and to Syria in 1979,[4] where he remained until 1981. He was Deputy Under-Secretary of State at the FCO from 1982 to 1984.

Wright was appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1984 to 1986.

Patrick Wright, Baron Wright Of Richmond Media

References

  1. SMcDonaldFCO (7 March 2020). "Patrick Wright (Lord Wright of Richmond) was PUS @foreignoffice 1986-1991; always professional & passionate about public service, he had boundless energy, curiosity & kindness; his sense of humour & duty never failed. Model man & permanent secretary, also model father-in-law. RIP". Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. Lord Wright of Richmond, parliament.uk, 18 December 2019
  3. No. 47476. 28 February 1978. p. 2598. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/47476/page/2598 
  4. No. 48055. 3 January 1980. p. 64. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/48055/page/64