John Rankin (diplomat)

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]

His Excellency
John Rankin
CMG
Governor of the British Virgin Islands
Assumed office
29 January 2021
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
PremierAndrew Fahie
Natalio Wheatley
Preceded byAugustus Jaspert
Governor of Bermuda
In office
5 December 2016 – 12 December 2020
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierMichael Dunkley
Edward David Burt
Preceded byGinny Ferson (acting)
Succeeded byRena Lalgie
United Kingdom High Commissioner to Sri Lanka
In office
2011–2015
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byPeter Hayes
Succeeded byJames Dauris
United Kingdom Consul-General in Boston
In office
2003–2007
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byGeorge Fergusson
Succeeded byPhil Budden
Personal details
Born
John James Rankin

(1957-03-12) 12 March 1957
United Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
McGill University

Early life and education

Rankin was born on 12 March 1957. He was educated at Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School, a private school in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied Scots law at the University of Glasgow, graduating with a first class honours Bachelor of Laws degree. He later studied international law at McGill University, graduating with a Master of Laws degree.[2][3]

Career

Rankin qualified and practised as a solicitor in Scotland; he was a member of the Law Society of Scotland. He was additionally a lecturer in public law at the University of Aberdeen from 1984 to 1988.[2]

Diplomatic career

Rankin joined 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.[4] In 2015, he was appointed Ambassador to Nepal.[5]

He was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2016 New Year Honours.[6]

Governor

Rankin was sworn in as Governor of Bermuda on 5 December 2016.[7] In February 2018, signed into law the Domestic Partnership 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.[8] 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.[9] 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.

Personal life

Rankin was married to Lesley Marshall from 1987 until they divorced in 2019. They have a son and two daughters.[2]

Publications

References
  1. Johnston-Barnes, Owain (19 September 2016). "Rankin named new Governor". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. "Rankin, John James, (born 12 March 1957), HM Diplomatic Service; Governor, British Virgin Islands, since 2021". Who's Who 2022. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  3. "Governor to the British Virgin Islands: John Rankin". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  4. Change of British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 1 September 2010
  5. John Rankin, gov.uk
  6. "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N4.
  7. "Bermuda welcomes new Governor". The Royal Gazette. Bermuda. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  8. Guardian Staff; agencies (8 February 2018). "Bermuda becomes first jurisdiction in the world to repeal same-sex marriage". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  9. "Governor Jaspert Announces BVI's Next Governor". bvi.gov.vg. Government of the Virgin Islands. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
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