Dominic Asquith

Sir Dominic Anthony Gerard Asquith (born 7 February 1957) is a British career diplomat and former Ambassador to Iraq, Egypt, and Libya. He was First Secretary at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., Washington DC. He was most recently the British High Commissioner to the Republic of India.

Background and education

Asquith is the younger son of Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith, The 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith and Anne Asquith, Anne (born Palairet). He was a great-grandson of H. H. Asquith, the former British Prime Minister. Asquith's elder brother Raymond Asquith, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith, Raymond, father Lord Oxford, and maternal grandfather Michael Palairet, Sir Michael Palairet, all served as British diplomats. Like his father and brother, he was educated at Ampleforth College.

In 1975 he was involved in the Musa Alami project in the West Bank, Palestine, and worked as a researcher at the Institute for Palestine Studies, Institute of Palestine Studies in Beirut.

In 1981 he worked as a freelance journalist in Amman, Jordan and then as the Executive Secretary to the Parliamentary Association for Euro-Arab Co-operation in London, until 1983.

Diplomatic career

Asquith joined Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, HM Diplomatic Service in 1983 as part of the Soviet Union, Soviet department and served at Damascus, Muscat, Oman, Muscat, Washington, D.C., Buenos Aires and Riyadh before being appointed Deputy Head of Mission in Iraq in 2004, Director of the Iraq Directorate at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2004–06 and List of Ambassadors from the United Kingdom to Iraq, Ambassador to Iraq 2006–07. He was List of diplomats from the United Kingdom to Egypt, Ambassador to Egypt 2007–11 and List of Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Libya, Ambassador to Libya 2011–12.

On 4 December 2009, Asquith List of witnesses of The Iraq Inquiry#December 4, gave evidence before Parliament to The Iraq Inquiry.

Asquith survived an assassination attempt in June 2012 when a British convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. In September 2012 Asquith had to extend a routine break from Libya for medical treatment and in January 2013 he was officially replaced by Michael Aron.

Asquith was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2004, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 2012 New Year Honours.

After spending a few years in the private sector, Asquith returned to diplomatic life, taking charge as List of High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to India, High Commissioner to India in April 2016. He concluded his four-year stint in India in January 2020.

Outside work

In May 2013 Asquith took an unpaid position leading a trade delegation to Libya organised by the Libyan British Business Council.

In June 2013 Sir Dominic took a paid position as senior consultant with ''Tatweer Research'', a Libyan research and development company, specialising in technology and engineering.

Career overview

*1983–1984 Diplomat, Soviet Dept
*1984–1985 Diplomat, Southern Europe Dept
*1986–1987 Second Secretary, Damascus, Syria
*1987–1989 First Secretary (Chancery), Muscat
*1989–1990 Diplomat, EC Dept (Internal) Dept
*1990–1992 Private Secretary to Minister of State FCO
*1992–1996 First Secretary, Washington DC, USA
*1996 Drugs and International Crime Dept FCO
*1997–2001 Minister and Dep Head of Mission, Buenos Aires
*2001–2004 Deputy Head of Mission and Consul-General, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
*2004 Deputy Special Representative for Iraq, and Deputy Head of Mission, Baghdad, Iraq
*2004–2006 Director Iraq, FCO
*2006–2007 HM Ambassador to Iraq
*2007–2011 HM Ambassador to Egypt
*2011–2012 UK Special Representative, then Ambassador, to Libya
*2013–2015 Senior Advisor, Dentons LLP
*2016–2020 British High Commissioner to India

Personal life

Asquith was married in 1988 to Louise Cotton, who had worked as a secretary in the British Foreign Office and resigned upon her marriage. Sir Dominic and Lady Asquith have four children:The Peerage, entry for Hon Sir Dominic Asquith
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* Gabriela Elizabeth Louise Asquith (born 1989)
* Helena Lucy Anne Asquith (born 1990)
* Thomas Anthony Gerard Asquith (born 1992)
* William Raphael Augustine Asquith (born 1994)

References

External links

Libyan British Business Council websiteTatweer Research websiteBurke's Peerage & Baronetage website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Asquith, Dominic
1957 births
Living people
English Roman Catholics
Asquith family, Dominic Asquith
Younger sons of earls
People educated at Ampleforth College
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Egypt
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Iraq
Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Libya
High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to India
Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George