Douglas Hurd is a British politician and former diplomat. He was born on March 8, 1930 in London, England. Hurd studied history at the University of Cambridge before joining the diplomatic service in 1952. He served in various diplomatic positions, including in Beijing and Rome. In 1974, Hurd decided to enter politics and was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for the Mid Oxfordshire constituency. Throughout his political career, he held various ministerial positions, including Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1984-1985) and Home Secretary (1985-1989). Hurd also served as Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1989 to 1995, under Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major. During his tenure, he played a key role in diplomatic negotiations, especially during the Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. After leaving politics, Hurd became a successful author, publishing several novels and non-fiction books. He was appointed a life peer in 1997, taking the title Lord Hurd of Westwell, and continued to contribute to public life through various roles. Douglas Hurd is known for his pragmatism and moderation, and his contributions to British politics and diplomacy have had a lasting impact.