Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington
A patrician diplomat who helped dismantle white rule in Rhodesia, then resigned with honor after the Falklands invasion caught his Foreign Office off guard.
1919–2018 (age 99)·British politician·Birthday: June 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Peter Carington, the 6th Baron Carrington, moved through the 20th century with the unflappable demeanor of his aristocratic lineage, yet his career was defined by modern political tumult. After distinguished military service in World War II, he entered politics, becoming a steady hand as Defence Secretary. His defining moment came as Foreign Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, where his quiet diplomacy was instrumental in forging the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, a complex pact that ended the Rhodesian Bush War and birthed Zimbabwe. His tenure, however, was cut short by the 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands; believing the Foreign Office had failed in its duty to foresee the crisis, he insisted on resigning, a rare act of ministerial accountability. This principled exit did not end his service, as he later led NATO through the tense final years of the Cold War, helping to manage the alliance's relationship with a reforming Soviet Union.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Peter was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Peter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Peter's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2018Died at 99
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
Key Achievements
- As British Foreign Secretary, he was a key architect of the 1979 Lancaster House Agreement, which ended the Rhodesian conflict and led to Zimbabwe's independence.
- Served as Secretary General of NATO from 1984 to 1988, steering the alliance during a period of significant geopolitical change under Mikhail Gorbachev.
- Held the position of Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974, overseeing British military policy during the early Cold War period.
- Accepted full responsibility and resigned as Foreign Secretary following the Falklands invasion in 1982, setting a notable standard for ministerial accountability.
Did You Know?
He was the last member of the House of Lords to hold one of the four Great Offices of State (Foreign Secretary) while sitting in the Lords.
During World War II, he was awarded the Military Cross for his actions as a tank commander with the Grenadier Guards.
He was a direct descendant of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington, who was a banker to King George III.
After politics, he served as Chairman of Christie's auction house from 1988 to 1992.
“Ministers must take responsibility for the actions of their departments or they are not fit to hold office.”
