Rt Hon Sir Ronald Hugh Campbell, GCMG

Campbell was a British diplomat who held several important positions at the Foreign Office including, from July 1939 to 22 June 1940, when the armistice between Germany and France was signed at Compiègne, that of British ambassador to France. He was appointed British ambassador in Paris from the British Legation in Belgrade - a considerable jump in promotion and extremely rare in the diplomatic service. Such an important position is normally reserved for diplomats who have passed through several legations and other embassies. However, it was long recognized that Campbell possessed outstanding abilities. Following the fall of France in June 1940, he returned to London and in November of the same year was transferred to Lisbon to act as British ambassador. He retired from the Foreign Office at the end of his period of service as British ambassador to Portugal in July 1945.

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