MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chile Expert and Diplomat Dies: John Hickman
A former British diplomat and expert on Latin America and member of the South Atlantic Council, which promotes discussions with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, has died .
John Hickman, born in Glasgow, was 73. He was Ambassador to Ecuador from 1977 to 1981 and of Chile from 1982 to 1987. He wrote a book about Chile which, by coincidence, was published the day that General Pinochet was arrested in London in 1998. The book, called "News from the End of the Earth: A Portrait of Chile", thrust him into the news as a media commentator on the case and on General Pinochet's military dictatorship.
He also wrote a book in 1985 on the Galapagos Islands called "The Enchanted Islands: The Galapagos Discovered"
After National Service as an Artillery officer, he joined the War Office, transferring to the Commonwealth Relations Office in 1958. As a diplomat for nearly thirty years, he held posts in New Zealand, Spain, Singapore and the Republic of Ireland, and was chairman of the Belize Independence Conference in 1981 before specialising in Latin America.
After retirement from the Foreign Office, he maintained his interest in South America as a member of the South Atlantic Council, a director of Anaconda (SA) Incorporated, chairman of the Anglo-Ecuadorian Society and of the Anglo-Chilean Society. He was awarded the Chile Grand Cross Order of Merit.
Harold Briley, London
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!