Sir John Miller Martin KCMG CB CVO (15 October 1904 – 31 March 1991) was a British civil servant who served as Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, during World War II. The position is a public, rather than private post. He was present at the most important strategic conferences and was knighted in 1952.
Sir John Martin | |
---|---|
Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister | |
In office 1941–1945 | |
Prime Minister | Winston Churchill |
Preceded by | Eric Seal |
Succeeded by | Leslie Rowan |
Personal details | |
Born | John Miller Martin 15 October 1904 |
Died | 31 March 1991 | (aged 86)
Spouse | Rosalind Ross (m. 1943) |
Children | 1 |
Education | Edinburgh Academy |
Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Oxford |
Occupation | Civil servant |
Awards | CVO (1943) CB (1945) KCMG (1952) |
John Miller Martin, born on 15 October 1904, was the son of the reverend John Martin (Church of Scotland). He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and won a scholarship to Corpus Christi College, Oxford.[1]
Having passed the civil service examination in 1927 he joined the Colonial and Dominion offices. After a long and distinguished career his final posting was British High Commissioner for Malta in 1965 before retirement in 1967.[2]
He was awarded a Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the King's Birthday Honours 1943,[3] an Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1945 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours[4] and was knighted (KCMG) in the 1952 New Year Honours.[5]
He married Rosalind Ross, daughter of Sir David Ross, in 1943. The union bore one son.[1] Sir John Martin died on 31 March 1991 at the age of 86.