Donald Maitland

Sir Donald Maitland GCMG OBE (16 August 1922 – 22 August 2010) was a senior British diplomat. He served as British Prime Minister Edward Heath's press secretary 1970 to 1974.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Maitland was educated at George Watson's College and the University of Edinburgh.

Maitland joined the Foreign Service in 1947. After serving as Heath's press secretary, he was appointed as Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations.

Maitland's expertise was in the Middle East where he served during World War II. Between 1956 and 1960 he was Director of the Middle East Centre for Arab Studies, Lebanon. In 1967 he became Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary and later Ambassador to Libya.

In June 1980 he was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department of Energy, until his retirement from the civil service in December 1982.

Maitland lived in Bradford on Avon, and was a pro-chancellor of the University of Bath from 1997 to 2000. He married in 1950, and had a son and a daughter.

In 1995, he was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) by the University of Bath.

Offices held

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Murray, The Lord MacLehose of Beoch	Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary 1967-1969	Succeeded by Sir John Graham
Preceded by Sir Roderick Sarell	British Ambassador to Libya 1969-1970	Succeeded by Peter Tripp
Preceded by Sir Colin Crowe	British Permanent Representative to the United Nations 1973-1974	Succeeded by Ivor, The Lord Richard
Preceded by Sir Oliver Wright	Deputy Under-Secretary, Economic Affairs of the Foreign Office 1974-1975	Succeeded by Sir Norman Statham
Government offices
Preceded by Unknown	Chief Press Secretary, Prime Minister's Office 1970-1973	Succeeded by Unknown