{{Short description|British diplomat and courtier}} {{More footnotes needed|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Sir Marcus John Cheke''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|KCVO|CMG}} (20 October 1906 – 22 June 1960) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barreiros|first=José António|date=2019-10-27|title=Sir Marcus John Cheke – 24 Land|url=https://www.24land.pt/allies/sir-marcus-john-cheke/|access-date=2021-11-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> They had no children.
In 1945, when leaving Lisbon, Cheke donated a painting to the Câmara Municipal (city council), by him, depicting the Terreiro do Paço.
==Publications==
* ''Papillée'', Faber & Gwyer, London, 1927 * ''The licking [Reminiscences of the author's childhood]'', Grayhound Press, Winchester, 1931 * ''Hide and Seek'', Collins, London, 1934 * ''A tale of Lisbon [A poem]'', The Shakespeare Head Press, Oxford, 1937 * ''Dictator of Portugal: A Life of the Marquis of Pombal, 1699–1782'', Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1938 * Acta n.º 99, Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, 1945 * ''Carlota Joaquina, Queen of Portugal'', Sidgwick & Jackson, London, 1947 * ''Guidance on Foreign Usages and Ceremony, and Other Matters, for a Member of His Majesty's Foreign Service on His First Appointment to a Post Abroad'', HM Diplomatic Corps, London, 1949 * ''The Cardinal de Bernis'', Cassell, London, 1958
==References== *[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U235693 CHEKE, Sir Marcus (John)], ''Who Was Who'', A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 19 February 2012 *[http://archive.catholicherald.co.uk/article/3rd-june-1960/5/the-pope-calls-on-sir-marcus The Pope calls on Sir Marcus], ''Catholic Herald'', 3 June 1960 *[http://copac.ac.uk/search?au=marcus+cheke&sort-order=date Copac – Brief Record Display – Marcus Cheke] {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{s-start}} {{s-dip}} {{s-bef| before = Sir Douglas Howard }} {{s-ttl| title = Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See | years = 1957 – 1960 }} {{s-aft| after = Sir Peter Scarlett }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cheke, Marcus John}} Category:1906 births Category:1960 deaths Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford Category:Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to the Holy See Category:People educated at Clayesmore School