Edgar Ritchie Ambassador

Albert Edgar Ritchie, CC (December 20, 1916 – January 24, 2002) was a Canadian diplomat.Born in Andover, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1938 from Mount Allison University. A Rhodes scholar, he received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oxford in 1940.In 1944, he joined the Department of External Affairs and worked in Washington, D.C.He resigned in 1946 to become Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary-General, Economic Affairs Department of the United Nations. He re-joined External Affairs in 1948 and was posted to London. In 1959, he was appointed Assistant Under-Secretary of State for External Affairs. He was Deputy Under Secretary of State for External Affairs from August 1964 until July 1966. From 1966 to 1970 he was the Canadian ambassador to the United States. From 1970 to 1974 he held the top job in Canada's foreign service as Under Secretary of State for External Affairs. From 1976 to 1980 he was the Canadian ambassador to Ireland.In 1973 he received the Government of Canada Public Service Outstanding Achievement Award. In 1975 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.