David Williamson, Baron Williamson of Horton

David Francis Williamson, Baron Williamson of Horton GCMG, CB, PC ( born May 8, 1934) is a British civil servant and an active member of the House of Lords.

Life and career

He was taught at Tonbridge School ( Tonbridge ) and Exeter College ( Oxford). 1956 to 1958 he served in the Royal Corp of Signals. He began his civil service career in 1958 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. There he became in 1967 Principal Private Secretary to the Minister. He was Deputy Director- General for Agriculture of the European Commission from 1977 to 1983 and Secretary-General of the European Commission in 1987 until 1997.

From 1983 to 1987 he was returned to Britain for the post of Deputy Secretary and head the European Secretariat in the Cabinet Office to accept. After leaving Brussels, Williamson was raised to life peer. He currently sits in the House of Lords as a cross Bencher. Since 2004 he has been Convenor of the Cross Bench peers.

Family

He married 1961 Patricia Smith and has two sons with her.