John McCarthy (Australian diplomat)

Not to be confused with John A. McCarthy.

John Philip McCarthy AO (born 29 November 1942) is a former Australian diplomat.

John McCarthy AO
McCarthy in 2013
Ambassador of Australia to Vietnam
In office 1981 (1981)–1983 (1983)
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser Bob Hawke
Preceded by	Philip Knight
Succeeded by	Richard Broinowski
14th Ambassador of Australia to Japan
In office 11 June 2001 (2001-06-11) – 15 July 2004 (2004-07-15)
Prime Minister	John Howard
Preceded by	Peter Grey
Succeeded by	Murray McLean
20th Ambassador of Australia to the United States
In office 5 December 1995 – 1 February 1997
Preceded by	Don Russell
Succeeded by	Andrew Peacock
Personal details
Born	John Philip McCarthy (1942-11-29) 29 November 1942 (age 82) Washington, D.C., United States
Nationality	Australian
Children	Two daughters
Parent(s)	Edwin McCarthy and Marjorie Mary Graham
Alma mater	Jesus College, Cambridge
Occupation	Diplomat, Lawyer, Barrister

Biography

Born in Washington, D.C., McCarthy was educated at Downside School, Somerset, in England and studied at Jesus College, Cambridge. He received a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree from Cambridge University.^[1] He was a barrister-at-law and practised in London from 1965 to 1967. He worked with the New York City Law Firm of Shearman & Sterling from 1966 to 1967 and joined the Department of External Affairs in Canberra in 1968.^[2]

McCarthy was senior private secretary to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Peacock, between December 1978 and November 1980. Peacock later succeeded McCarthy as Australian Ambassador to the United States in 1997.

McCarthy served as Australia's representative in the following posts:

• Ambassador to Vietnam (1981–83)
• Ambassador to Mexico (1985–87)^[3]
• Ambassador to Thailand (1992–94)
• Ambassador to the United States (1995–1997)
• Ambassador to Indonesia (1997–2001)^[4]
• Ambassador to Japan (2001–2004)^[5]
• High Commissioner to India (2004–2009).^[6]

He also served in diplomatic posts in Damascus, Baghdad and Vientiane.

McCarthy was appointed an Officer of the Order for Australia (AO) in 1999 for service to the enhancement of Australia's international reputation and to the development of Australian regional policy while serving as Australia's Ambassador to Indonesia in Jakarta.^[7]

Personal

McCarthy has two daughters with ex-wife Zorica McCarthy.^[8]

Honours

• Officer of the Order of Australia (1999)
• Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star (2020)

References

1. The Cambridge University List of Members 1976
2. Wade, Matt (25 July 2009). "Forty years in the diplomatic engine room". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
3. "Appointment". The Canberra Times. 13 December 1984. p. 3.
4. Suryodiningrat, Meidyatama (8 December 2000). "Ambassador McCarthy ends 'satisfying' four years in RI". The Jakarta Post. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014.
5. Downer, Alexander. "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Japan" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
6. Downer, Alexander (9 August 2004). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to India" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
7. "MCCARTHY, John Philip: Officer of the Order of Australia". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. 26 January 1999. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
8. Ryan, Colleen (23 July 2010). "Lunch with the AFR". Financial Review. Retrieved 3 March 2020.

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by John Starey	Australian Chargé d'affaires in Syria	Succeeded by Neil Truscott as Ambassador
Preceded by Philip Knight	Australian Ambassador to Vietnam 1981 – 1983	Succeeded by Richard Broinowski
Preceded by Cavan Hogue	Australian Ambassador to Mexico 1985 – 1987	Succeeded by Bill Farmer
Preceded by Richard Butler	Australian Ambassador to Thailand 1992 – 1994	Succeeded by Cavan Hogue
Preceded by Don Russell	Australian Ambassador to the United States 1995 – 1997	Succeeded by Andrew Peacock
Preceded by Allan Taylor	Australian Ambassador to Indonesia 1997 – 2001	Succeeded by Ric Smith
Preceded by Peter Grey	Australian Ambassador to Japan 2001 – 2004	Succeeded by Murray McLean
Preceded by Penny Wensley	Australian High Commissioner to India 2004 – 2009	Succeeded by Peter Varghese