12 Facts About Peter Heydon

Sir Peter Richard Heydon was an Australian public servant, policymaker, and diplomat.

Peter Heydon was born in Croydon, Sydney, on 9 September 1913.

Peter Heydon was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School, and in 1936 joined the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of External Affairs, soon after having been admitted to the NSW bar.

In 1942, Heydon married Muriel Naomi Slater, a Canadian who had been his personal assistant during his appointment to the staff of Richard Casey in Washington.

From 1943 to 1944, Peter Heydon served with the Australian legation to the Soviet Union which had just opened at the wartime capital of Kuibyshev.

Between May and September 1950, Peter Heydon was charge d'affaires in charge of the Australian Embassy in the Netherlands.

Peter Heydon was after appointed Minister to Brazil, serving until 1953.

Between 1953 and 1955, Peter Heydon was High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Peter Heydon was appointed High Commissioner to India, serving in that position until 1958.

From 1961 until his death in 1971, Peter Heydon was Secretary of the Department of Immigration.

Peter Heydon died of a heart attack on 15 May 1971, and was remembered by the prime minister, William McMahon, as one of the best-liked and respected public servants in Canberra.

Peter Heydon was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1959 for service as High Commissioner to India.