Frank Gibbs
Sir Frank Stannard Gibbs was a British diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the Philippines from 1954 to 1955.
Career
Gibbs joined the Foreign Service and began his career as vice-consul in Genoa in 1920. He then served in Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Marseille, Beira, and Milan. In 1935, he joined the China consular service and was acting consul-general at Canton. In 1939, he was at Addis Ababa; in 1941 at Rosario; and in 1946, he was consul-general in Tunis.Gibbs was consul-general for French Indochina at Saigon from 1947 to 1951. In 1950, when Britain recognised the Indochina associated states of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, he was elevated to the rank of minister to the three states. The raising of the consul-general to legation status was seen as confirming Britain's position in supporting the three states against the Communist backed Viet Minh insurrectionary government. On presenting his credentials to the Emperor, he praised Vietnam's progress towards independence and its support for economic co-operation with the Commonwealth.
In 1951, he was appointed minister in Manila, and in 1954 promoted to ambassador to the Philippines, a post he held until his retirement from the service in 1955.
Personal life
Gibbs married Sylvia Knight in 1944 and they had one son and one daughter.Gibbs died on 22 October 1983, aged 88.