John Boyd (diplomat)


Sir John Dixon Ikle Boyd was British ambassador to Japan from 1992 to 1996, and was subsequently the Master of Churchill College, Cambridge from 1996 to 2006. He was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the British Museum from 2002 to 2006. Boyd died on 18 October 2019, at the age of 83.

Education

Boyd was educated at Westminster School and Clare College, Cambridge; also Yale University.

Diplomatic career

Boyd was a member of the British Diplomatic service from 1962–1996. He served twice in Hong Kong and Beijing twice. Other postings included Bonn, Washington, and the UK Mission to the UN. At home he served as Deputy Under-Secretary for Defence and subsequently Chief Clerk of the FCO before his posting to Japan. His tenure in Tokyo saw a marked expansion in bilateral exchanges on a wide front. He holds the
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.

Other roles

Boyd served as Chairman of Asia House from 2010 to 2017.