Background
Alexander George Montagu Cadogan was born on November 25, 1884 in London, England, United Kingdom.
Alexander George Montagu Cadogan was born on November 25, 1884 in London, England, United Kingdom.
He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, where he read history.
After the privileged but disciplined childhood of British landed gentry, his time divided between the stately Chelsea House at the corner of Cadogan Square in London and an 11,000 acre family estate in Suffolk. He was an all-around standout at Eton. Reading history at Balliol College, Oxford, he was too active in undergraduate life to gain more than second class honors (1906). Cadogan was first on entrance examinations for the diplomatic service in Oct 08 and went on to be the quintessential British foreign service officer (CB 44).
Returning to London from three and a half years in Turkey, 1909-12, the natty little Welsh aristocrat promptly married Lady Theodosia Louisa Augusta Acheson, daughter of the fourth Earl of Gosford. He next served 16 months in Vienna, leaving on 14 Aug 1914, two days after Britain declared war. Cadogan served in the Foreign Office as a junior clerk until being promoted to first secretary in 1919 and sent to Paris.
As secretary general to the UK delegation to the League of Nations, he had a major role in drafting the convention on disarmament and attended many conferences on collective security arrangements. (Ibid.) Cadogan rose to head the Foreign Office League of Nations section. In Jan 34 he was posted as minister to China, becoming ambassador in May 35, when the legation became an embassy. Returning to Whitehall on 1 Jan 1936 as one of Anthony Eden’s deputy under secretaries of state in the FO, Cadogan replaced Sir Robert Vansittart on I Jan 38 as permanent undersecretary. Holding this post until 1946 Sir Alexander (KCB in 1941) won praise for his calm, thorough, and self-effacing performance, getting on well with Churchill and accompanying the PM on trips abroad. Cadogan led the British delegation to the Dumbarton Oaks conference and was his country’s permanent UN representative 1946-50.
Retiring from public life. Sir Alexander was chairman of the BBC 1952-57, staunchly defending its independence during the Suez crisis of 1956 (DNB). He died 9 July 68 in London.
Married Lady Theodosia Gosford.