Wilfred Thesiger

Wilfred Gilbert Thesiger DSO (25 March 1871 – 31 January 1920) was a British officer and diplomat, who was British Minister in Ethiopia from 1909 to 1919. Background and early life Thesiger was born into a well-connected family of politicians, officers and diplomats. He was a younger son of the 2nd Baron Chelmsford by Adria Fanny Heath, daughter of Major-General John Coussamker Heath. His father was a General, his grandfather the 1st Baron Chelmsford was twice Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom, and his elder brother Frederic Thesiger had a distinguished career as colonial governor, became Viceroy of India and was created Viscount Chelmsford. Lieutenant-General Sir Eric Thesiger was a younger brother. Career In 1896 Thesiger stayed in the Vice-Consulate in Van, Eastern Turkey, to learn Turkish. Between 1897 and 1900 he was Vice-Consul to Taranto. Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in late 1899, Thesiger volunteered for active service and was attached as a lieutenant to the 59th Company of the 15th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, on 24 March 1900. The company had left the United Kingdom for South Africa in the SS Mahratta in early March 1900. After arrival, he fought with the battalion between 1900 and 1901, and was mentioned in despatches. For his services he was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1900 and promoted to the rank of captain. He resigned his commission in December 1901, and was granted the honorary rank of captain in the army. Following his return to Europe, he re-entered the diplomatic service, and held the following offices: