Sir Robert Vansittart

The Right Honourable The Lord Vansittart GCB GCMG MVO PC
Vansittart in 1929.
Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office 1930–1938
Preceded by	Sir Ronald Lindsay
Succeeded by	Sir Alexander Cadogan
Personal details
Born	25 June 1881 Wilton House, Farnham, Surrey
Died	14 February 1957 (1957-02-15) (aged 75)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	(1) Gladys Heppenheimer (died 1928) (2) Sarah Enriqueta Ward

Robert Gilbert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart GCB GCMG MVO PC (25 June 1881 – 14 February 1957), known as Sir Robert Vansittart between 1929 and 1941, was a senior British diplomat in the period before and during the Second World War. He was Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister from 1928 to 1930 and Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1930 to 1938 and later served as Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the British Government. He is best remembered for his opposition to appeasement and his strong stance against Germany during and after the Second World War. Vansittart was also a published poet, novelist and playwright.

Vansittart was born at Wilton House, Farnham, Surrey, the eldest of the three sons of Robert Arnold Vansittart, of Foots Cray Place, Kent, a Captain in the 7th Dragoon Guards, by his wife Susan Alice Blane, daughter of Gilbert James Blane of Foliejon Park, co. Berks. His younger brother Guy Nicholas (Nick) Vansittart had a successful career with General Motors before and after the war. He was recruited into “Z” Network during the 1930s and served in Special Operations Executive during World War Two. The Vansittart family was of Dutch descent: ancestors included Arthur Vansittart, Member of Parliament for Windsor, and Colonel Arthur Vansittart, Member of Parliament for Berkshire. Henry Vansittart, Robert Vansittart and Lord Bexley were members of other branches of the family. A female-line ancestor was Lord Auckland.