John Rankin (diplomat)
His Excellency John Rankin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governor of the British Virgin Islands | |
| Assumed office 29 January 2021 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Augustus Jaspert |
| Governor of Bermuda | |
| In office 5 December 2016 – 12 December 2020 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Ginny Ferson (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Rena Lalgie |
| United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sri Lanka | |
| In office 2011–2015 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Peter Hayes |
| Succeeded by | James Dauris |
| United Kingdom Consul-General in Boston | |
| In office 2003–2007 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | George Fergusson |
| Succeeded by | Phil Budden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John James Rankin 12 March 1957 United Kingdom |
John James Rankin, CMG (born 12 March 1957) is a British diplomat and a former ambassador to Nepal. He is the current Governor of the British Virgin Islands. He was Governor of Bermuda from December 2016 to December 2020.[1]
Early life[]
Rankin was educated at Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School, the University of Glasgow, where he gained a first class honours degree in Scots law and later at McGill University he gained a master's degree in international law.
Career[]
He qualified and practised as a solicitor in Scotland and was a lecturer in public law at the University of Aberdeen before joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in 1988. Between posts at the FCO he served at the embassy in Dublin and was the consul-general at Boston. He took up his appointment as High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and non-resident High Commissioner to the Maldives in February 2011.[2] In 2015, he moved to be Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.[3] He was sworn in as Governor of Bermuda on 5 December 2016.[4]
He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2016 New Year Honours.[5]
In February 2018, Rankin signed into law the Domestic Partnerships Act 2018, which effectively reversed the right of gay couples to marry. This made Bermuda the first jurisdiction to legalise and then repeal same-sex marriage rights.[6] The law relating to same-sex marriage in Bermuda could change again, as the Supreme Court stated in June 2018 that repealing same-sex marriage rights was discriminatory and thus contrary to section 12 of the Bermudian Constitution.
In September 2020, it was announced that Rankin would be replacing Gus Jaspert as Governor of the British Virgin Islands in 2021. As such, he was replaced in December 2020 by Rena Lalgie as Governor of Bermuda.
Rankin was sworn in as Governor of the British Virgin Islands on 29 January 2021, after arriving in the territory and observing the mandatory 14-day quarantine due to COVID-19.[citation needed]
Publications[]
- The Right of Self-determination: Its Nature, Content and Beneficiaries in International Law, McGill University, 1984
Personal life[]
Rankin has a son and two daughters.
References[]
- John Rankin, gov.uk
- RANKIN, John James, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012
- ^ Johnston-Barnes, Owain (19 September 2016). "Rankin named new Governor". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^ Change of British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 1 September 2010
- ^ John Rankin, gov.uk
- ^ "Bermuda welcomes new Governor". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N4.
- ^ Guardian Staff; agencies (8 February 2018). "Bermuda becomes first jurisdiction in the world to repeal same-sex marriage". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
7. Governor Jaspert Announces BVI’s Next Governor | Government of the Virgin Islands
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| General | |
| National libraries | |
- 1957 births
- Living people
- People educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School
- Alumni of the University of Glasgow
- McGill University Faculty of Law alumni
- Academics of the University of Aberdeen
- High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Sri Lanka
- High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to the Maldives
- Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Nepal
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Governors of Bermuda
- Governors of the British Virgin Islands