Charles Kevin CBE
Born
John Charles George Kevin

(1909-10-09)9 October 1909
Forbes, New South Wales
Died13 February 1968(1968-02-13) (aged 58)
Pretoria, South Africa
Resting placeZanderfontein Cemetery
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Occupation(s)Public servant, diplomat
Spouses
Hermine Schick
​
​
(m. 1939; div. 1962)​
    Mary Therese Wilson
    ​
    (m. 1963)​

    John Charles George Kevin CBE (9 October 1909 – 13 February 1968) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.

    Life and career

    Charles Kevin, as he was known, graduated from the University of Sydney law school.[1]

    In June 1945, Kevin joined the Department of External Affairs.[2]

    In 1948, Kevin was acting High Commissioner of Australia to India.[3] Kevin and his wife Hermine separated in 1949.[4] In 1951 Kevin's wife Hermine petitioned for divorce and was granted an order for restitution of conjugal rights; when Charles Kevin petitioned for divorce in January 1952 the request was rejected.[5][6]

    Kevin was posted Minister to Indonesia in 1953, an appointment that then Minister for external affairs Richard Casey, Baron Casey said was part of a planned policy to build up diplomatic relations in Asia's south east.[7] While he was Minister, Australia and Indonesia signed a new trade agreement for the trade of goods worth over £5 million.[8]

    After his Indonesia posting, from 1955 to 1959, Kevin was an assistant secretary in the external affairs department in Canberra.[9] He arrived for his next posting as High Commissioner to Ceylon in 1959, serving in that capacity until 1961. In Ceylon, Kevin met Mary Therese Wilson, an Englishwoman and began a new relationship, whilst still married to Hermine.[2]

    Kevin was appointed High Commissioner to Pakistan, in 1961 he arrived in the country in September that year.[10]

    His divorce was finally granted in 1962, while he was Ambassador-designate to South Africa.[4] On 6 May 1963, Kevin married Mary Therese Wilson.[2]

    His appointment as Ambassador to Sweden was announced in September 1967, with the intention for the posting to take effect on the retirement of Bertram Ballard.[11] Before he could leave for Sweden, on 13 February 1968, Kevin died of cancer while still in office in Pretoria.[2] Kevin's body was buried at the Zanderfontein Cemetery near Pretoria in South Africa.[12]

    Awards

    In the 1964 Queen's Birthday Honours (Australia), Kevin was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire during his time as Australian Ambassador in Cape Town.[13]

    References

    1. ↑ "Mr. C. Kevin for Indonesia". The Canberra Times. ACT. 6 January 1953. p. 2.
    2. 1 2 3 4 Beaumont, Joan, "Kevin, John Charles George (1909–1968)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian National University, archived from the original on 22 September 2015
    3. ↑ "Minister to Indonesia: Appointment of Mr. C. Kevin". The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW. 5 January 1953. p. 2.
    4. 1 2 "Divorce for New Envoy". The Canberra Times. 27 June 1962. p. 2.
    5. ↑ "Court rejects Kevin divorce claim". The Canberra Times. ACT. 3 March 1953.
    6. ↑ "Diplomat has fears of wife". Barrier Miner. Broken Hill, NSW. 16 February 1953. p. 3.
    7. ↑ "Career diplomat for Indonesia". Advocate. Burnie, Tasmania. 5 January 1953. p. 10.
    8. ↑ "Trade pact with Indonesia signed". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 29 November 1954. p. 2.
    9. ↑ "Envoy to South Africa dies". The Canberra Times. ACT. 14 February 1968. p. 1.
    10. ↑ "Envoy to Pakistan". The Canberra Times. 28 September 1961. p. 9.
    11. ↑ "New envoy to Sweden". The Canberra Times. ACT. 26 September 1967. p. 3.
    12. ↑ "Funeral of envoy". The Canberra. 15 February 1968.
    13. ↑ "Search Australian Honours: KEVIN, John Charles George, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil)", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 30 January 2016
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