Murray Bourchier (diplomat)

Murray Bourchier AO
Bourchier in 1936
Born	Murray Goulburn Madden Bourchier (1925-03-08)8 March 1925 St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Died	3 July 1981(1981-07-03) (aged 56) Deakin, Canberra, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Melbourne (LLB)
Occupations	Public servant diplomat
Spouse	Charlotte Ray Francis ​ ​ (m. 1951)​ [1]
Father	Murray Bourchier

Murray Goulburn Madden Bourchier AO (28 March 1925 – 3 July 1981) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.[1]

Life and career

Bourchier joined the Commonwealth Public Service in 1951 as a cadet in the Department of External Affairs.[2]

In August 1971 Bourchier's appointment as Australian Ambassador to the Republic of Korea was announced.[3] He took up his appointment as head of mission in November 1971.[4]

From 1977 to 1980 Bourchier was Australian Ambassador to the Soviet Union.[1] Relationships between the two countries were tense during the period.[5] In 1979 Bourchier was medically evacuated from Moscow to London where he was diagnosed with a cerebral tumour. He stepped down from his post in August 1980.[1]

In June 1981, Bouchier was appointed an Officer in the general division of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services as a diplomatic representative.[6]

Bourchier died at home in Deakin, Canberra, on Friday 3 July 1981.[2]

References

1. Woodard, Garry (2007), "Bourchier, Murray Goulburn Madden (1925–1981)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 13 February 2016
2. "Obituary: Mr Murray Bourchier, former Ambassador to Moscow". The Canberra Times. ACT. 5 July 1981. p. 3.
3. "Envoy to Korea named". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 August 1971. p. 7.
4. CA 6952: Australian Embassy, Republic of Korea [Seoul], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 11 January 2016
5. "Russia bugged Australian embassy". The Canberra Times. 1 January 2009. Archived from the original on 23 December 2011.
6. "Two new Canberra knights created, 44 other people honoured". The canberra Times. ACT. 13 June 1981. p. 10.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Allan Loomes	Australian Ambassador to South Korea 1971–1975	Succeeded by John Roger Holdich
Preceded by James Plimsoll	Australian Ambassador to the Soviet Union Australian Ambassador to Mongolia 1977–1980	Succeeded by David Evans