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. Clogg, Richard (20 February 2001).,https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/feb/20/guardianobituaries2, The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2015

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. Clogg, Richard (20 February 2001).,https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/feb/20/guardianobituaries2, The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2015

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."With Sten guns and sovereigns Britain and US saved Iran's throne for the Shah"

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.

 References 

Category:1917 births
Category:2001 deaths
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:UK MPs 1959–1964
Category:UK MPs 1964–1966
Category:UK MPs 1970–1974
Category:UK MPs 1974