Charles Kevin
Charles Kevin CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Charles George Kevin 9 October 1909 |
| Died | 13 February 1968 (aged 58) |
| Resting place | Zanderfontein Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation(s) | Public servant, diplomat |
| Spouses | Hermine Schick
(m. 1939; div. 1962)Mary Therese Wilson (m. 1963) |
John Charles George Kevin CBE (9 October 1909 – 13 February 1968) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.
Life and career
[edit]Charles Kevin, as he was known, graduated from the University of Sydney law school.[1]
In June 1945, Kevin joined the Department of External Affairs.[2]
In 1948, Kevin was acting High Commissioner of Australia to India.[3] Kevin and his wife Hermine separated in 1949.[4] In 1951 Kevin's wife Hermine petitioned for divorce and was granted an order for restitution of conjugal rights; when Charles Kevin petitioned for divorce in January 1952 the request was rejected.[5][6]
Kevin was posted Minister to Indonesia in 1953, an appointment that then Minister for external affairs Richard Casey, Baron Casey said was part of a planned policy to build up diplomatic relations in Asia's south east.[7] While he was Minister, Australia and Indonesia signed a new trade agreement for the trade of goods worth over £5 million.[8]
After his Indonesia posting, from 1955 to 1959, Kevin was an assistant secretary in the external affairs department in Canberra.[9] He arrived for his next posting as High Commissioner to Ceylon in 1959, serving in that capacity until 1961. In Ceylon, Kevin met Mary Therese Wilson, an Englishwoman and began a new relationship, whilst still married to Hermine.[2]
Kevin was appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan, in 1961 he arrived in the country in September that year.[10]
His divorce was finally granted in 1962, while he was Ambassador-designate to South Africa.[4] On 6 May 1963, Kevin married Mary Therese Wilson.[2]
His appointment as Ambassador to Sweden was announced in September 1967, with the intention for the posting to take effect on the retirement of Bertram Ballard.[11] Before he could leave for Sweden, on 13 February 1968, Kevin died of cancer while still in office in Pretoria.[2] Kevin's body was buried at the Zanderfontein Cemetery near Pretoria in South Africa.[12]
Awards
[edit]In the 1964 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia), Kevin was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire during his time as Australian Ambassador in Cape Town.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ "Mr. C. Kevin for Indonesia". The Canberra Times. ACT. 6 January 1953. p. 2.
- ^ a b c d Beaumont, Joan, "Kevin, John Charles George (1909–1968)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 22 September 2015
- ^ "Minister to Indonesia: Appointment of Mr. C. Kevin". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 5 January 1953. p. 2.
- ^ a b "Divorce for New Envoy". The Canberra Times. 27 June 1962. p. 2.
- ^ "Court rejects Kevin divorce claim". The Canberra Times. ACT. 3 March 1953.
- ^ "Diplomat has fears of wife". Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW. 16 February 1953. p. 3.
- ^ "Career diplomat for Indonesia". Advocate. Burnie, Tasmania. 5 January 1953. p. 10.
- ^ "Trade pact with Indonesia signed". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 29 November 1954. p. 2.
- ^ "Envoy to South Africa dies". The Canberra Times. ACT. 14 February 1968. p. 1.
- ^ "Envoy to Pakistan". The Canberra Times. 28 September 1961. p. 9.
- ^ "New envoy to Sweden". The Canberra Times. ACT. 26 September 1967. p. 3.
- ^ "Funeral of envoy". The Canberra. 15 February 1968.
- ^ "Search Australian Honours: KEVIN, John Charles George, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 30 January 2016
- 1909 births
- 1968 deaths
- Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- People from the Central West (New South Wales)
- Ambassadors of Australia to Indonesia
- Ambassadors of Australia to Sweden
- High commissioners of Australia to India
- High commissioners of Australia to Pakistan
- High commissioners of Australia to South Africa
- High commissioners of Australia to Sri Lanka
- University of Sydney alumni
- 20th-century diplomats
- Deaths from cancer in South Africa