Monty Woodhouse

**Christopher Montague Woodhouse**,  (11 May 1917 – 13 February 2001) known as _C. M. Woodhouse_, was a British Conservative politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for _Oxford_  in the county of Oxfordshire, from 1959 to 1966 and again from 1970 to 1974. He was also a visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford, from 1956 to 1964.

Woodhouse, was an expert on Greek affairs after he first got involved with resistance forces in Greece against the Germans during the Second World War, and then having served in the British Embassy.

Woodhouse also worked at the British Embassy in Tehran from 1951 to 1952 and played a central role in organizing the 1953 Iranian coup d'état that brought down the democratically elected government of Mohammad Mosaddegh.

## Early Life and Military Service

Montague Woodhouse, son of _Horace Woodhouse, 3rd Baron Terrington_, was educated at Winchester College and later at New College, Oxford, where he achieved a double first in Classics. Enlisting in the Royal Artillery in 1939, he served throughout World War II, rising to the rank of colonel and earning the _Distinguished Service Order_ and Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1944. Woodhouse's love for Greece grew during his service, particularly in his role as the Second-in-Command of the _Harling Force_ in mainland Greece.

## Government Service

Following World War II, Woodhouse served as Second Secretary at the British Embassy in Athens until 1946. He then returned to Britain, engaging in various industrial and academic roles. Woodhouse worked at the British Embassy in Tehran from 1951 to 1952 and played a pivotal role in organizing the 1953 Iranian coup d'état. Later, from 1955 to 1959, he served as the Director General at the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

## Operation Boot and Parliamentary Career

Woodhouse, as an MI6 agent, was involved in Operation Boot in Iran in the 1950s, aiming to resist a potential Soviet attack. He entered Parliament in 1959 and served in Conservative governments, holding positions such as Parliamentary Secretary for Aviation and Under-Secretary of State for the Home Office. Woodhouse faced defeat in 1966 but returned to Parliament in 1970, ultimately losing his seat in 1974.

## Personal Life

Married to Lady _Davidema Katharine Cynthia Mary Millicent Bulwer-Lytton_, Woodhouse had three children. He succeeded to the barony in 1998 and lost his seat in the House of Lords in 1999 due to legislative changes.

## Writings

C. M. Woodhouse authored several books, including "Modern Greece: A Short History," "The Philhellenes," and "The Rise and Fall of the Greek Colonels." Before his death in 2001, he completed the translation of the 10-volume "History of the European Spirit" by former Greek Prime Minister _Panayiotis Kanellopoulos_.

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Montague Woodhouse
- **birth name**: Christopher Montague Woodhouse
- **nationality**: British
- **education**: military
- **alma mater**: Winchester College
New College, Oxford
- **party**: Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
- **occupation**: British military and diplomat
- **known for**: He was an expert on Greek and Iranian affairs and played an important role during World War II and beyond.
- **notable works**: Distinguished Service Order
Order of the British Empire
- **spouse**: Lady Davidema Bulwer-Lytton
- **children**: 3