British diplomat Brian Urquhart, an early leader of the United Nations who played a central role in developing the UN practice of peacekeeping has died at age 101.
Urquhart, born in Bridport, England in 1919, served in British military and intelligence during World War II. He was the second official hired by the U.N. after its formation in 1945. He went on to be a principal adviser to the first five U.N. secretary-generals.
Before he retired in 1986 completing 41 years career in UN, Urquhart had directed 13 peacekeeping operations, recruited a force of 10,000 troops from 23 countries and established peacekeeping as one of the UN’s most visible and politically popular functions. The UN peacekeeping forces won the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize.
Urquhart served 12 years as the UN's No. 2 official, succeeding Ralph J. Bunche as under secretary general for political affairs in 1974.
Urquhart joined the Ford Foundation after he retired and wrote books and frequent commentaries for The New York Review of Books and other publications. His books include a 1987 autobiography, “A Life in Peace and War,” as well as books on United Nations leaders and operations.
He is survived by his wife, his five children, a stepson, 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
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