Duncan Sandys

Nationality

United Kingdom

Date of Birth

1908

Date of Death

1987

Political
Preference

Conservative

Duncan Sandys was a British politician who held various ministerial positions in the British government. Born in the village of Sandford Orcas, England, Sandys entered the diplomatic service in 1930, working both at the Foreign Office in London and at the British embassy in Berlin. He was a member of the Conservative Party Member and son-in-law of Winston Churchill. In 1935, he advocated for Germany to have a predominant place in central Europe in order for Great Britain to pursue its colonial goals without rival. During World War II, Sandys fought in the Norwegian campaign and was wounded in action.

After the war, Sandys chaired the International Committee of the Movements for European Unity (ICMEU) which prepared the Congress of the Europe in The Hague in 1948. He served on the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1950 to 1951. In 1957, he was appointed Minister of Defence. Sandys was the leader of the British delegation to the Council of Europe and the Western European Union until his retirement in 1972.