Marcus Cheke


Sir Marcus John Cheke was a British diplomat and courtier.

Career

Marcus Cheke was educated at Clayesmore School and Trinity College, Oxford. In the British general election of 1929 he stood as Liberal candidate for the New Forest and Christchurch constituency but was defeated by the sitting MP, Wilfrid Ashley.
Cheke was Honorary Attaché at the British Embassy, Lisbon, 1931–34 and at Brussels 1934–37; Press Attaché, Lisbon, 1938–42; attached to the staff of the Lisbon Embassy with the local rank of First Secretary 1942–45; and Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps 1946–57. He was appointed Minister to the Holy See in 1957 and died in office in Rome in 1960. He was also an Extra Gentleman Usher to the Queen from 1957.
Cheke was appointed CVO in 1952, CMG in 1955 and knighted KCVO in 1957.

Personal

In 1939 Cheke married the Honourable Constance Elizabeth Lopes, daughter of the 1st Baron Roborough. They had no children.
In 1945, when leaving Lisbon, Cheke donated a painting to the Câmara Municipal, by him, depicting the Terreiro do Paço.

Publications

Papillée, Faber & Gwyer, London, 1927The licking , Grayhound Press, Winchester, 1931Hide and Seek, Collins, London, 1934A tale of Lisbon , The Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford, 1937Dictator of Portugal: A Life of the Marquis of Pombal, 1699–1782, Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1938