Michael Hanley

Sir Michael Bowen Hanley KCB (24 February 1918 – 1 January 2001) was Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1972 to 1978.

For the bishop, see Michael Joseph Hanley. For the Michigan politician, see Michael J. Hanley.

Sir

Michael Hanley

KCB
Born24 February 1918
Leeds
Died1 January 2001(2001-01-01) (aged 82)
Salisbury
NationalityBritish
Alma materQueen's College, Oxford
OccupationIntelligence officer
Spouse(s)Lorna, Lady Hanley
Children2 (Peter Michael Hanley & Sarah Margaret Pittman)
AwardsKCB
Espionage activity
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service branchMI5
RankDirector General of MI5

Career

Educated at Sedbergh School and Queen's College, Oxford where he read history, Hanley served during the Second World War, being commissioned into the Royal Artillery of the British Army on 28 December 1940.[1] His service number was 164032.[1] He was subsequently served as an assistant military attaché to the Joint Allied Intelligence Centre in Budapest from 1946 to 1948.[2][1]

In 1948, Hanley joined the security service. He rose through the grades to be Deputy Director General of MI5, 1971–72. He was Director General of MI5 from 1972 to 1978.[3]

As Director General, Hanley had a difficult relationship with the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.[4] Wilson wrongly suspected MI5 of plotting against him in a conspiracy known as 'The Wilson Plot'.[5]

References
  1. "British Army officer histories". Unit Histories. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  2. Obituary: Sir Michael Hanley, theguardian.com, 6 January 2001.
  3. The Defence of the Realm, by Christopher Andrew, pp. 548, 853. Allen Lane, 2009; ISBN 978-0-7139-9885-6
  4. "Sir Michael Hanley | MI5 - The Security Service". www.mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. "The 'Wilson Plot' | MI5 - The Security Service". mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.


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