Michael Hanley
Sir Michael Bowen Hanley KCB (24 February 1918 – 1 January 2001) was Director General (DG) of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1972 to 1978.
Michael Hanley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 February 1918 |
| Died | 1 January 2001 (aged 82) |
| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Queen's College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Intelligence officer |
| Spouse(s) | Lorna, Lady Hanley |
| Children | 2 (Peter Michael Hanley & Sarah Margaret Pittman) |
| Awards | KCB |
| Espionage activity | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service branch | MI5 |
| Rank | Director General of MI5 |
Career edit
Educated at Sedbergh School and Queen's College, Oxford where he read history, Hanley served during the Second World War, being commissioned into the Royal Artillery of the British Army on 28 December 1940.[1] His service number was 164032.[1] He was subsequently served as an assistant military attaché to the Joint Allied Intelligence Centre in Budapest from 1946 to 1948.[2][1]
In 1948, Hanley joined the security service. He rose through the grades to be Deputy Director General of MI5, 1971–72. He was Director General of MI5 from 1972 to 1978.[3]
As Director General, Hanley had a difficult relationship with the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.[4] Wilson wrongly suspected MI5 of plotting against him in a conspiracy known as 'The Wilson Plot'.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c "British Army officer histories". Unit Histories. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ Obituary: Sir Michael Hanley, theguardian.com, 6 January 2001.
- ^ The Defence of the Realm, by Christopher Andrew, pp. 548, 853. Allen Lane, 2009; ISBN 978-0-7139-9885-6
- ^ "Sir Michael Hanley | MI5 - The Security Service". www.mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "The 'Wilson Plot' | MI5 - The Security Service". mi5.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
External links edit
- Obituary at The Daily Telegraph
- Obituary at The Guardian
- British Army Officers 1939−1945