Sir Michael Scott Weir, (28 January 1925 – 22 June 2006) was a British diplomat. He was born in Dunfermline, Fife, where his father was a primary school teacher. Career Weir went on a state scholarship to study oriental languages at the School of Oriental and African Studies in 1942. A year later he joined the Royal Air Force, which sent him to London University to learn Persian. He was then posted as an intelligence officer, including to Burma and Iraq. After demobilisation in 1947, he went to Balliol College, Oxford. He joined the Foreign Service in 1950, and quickly became one of its leading Arabists. His early postings included Bahrain, Doha and Sharjah. Weir's career culminated with his appointment as the United Kingdom's ambassador to Egypt (1979–1985). In 1981, he was sitting behind Egyptian President Anwar Sadat when the president was assassinated at a military parade. Weir retired from the Foreign Service in 1985. He served as President of the Egypt Exploration Society (1988–2006) and Director of the 21st Century Trust (1990–2000). He was the founding Chairman of the British Egyptian Society in 1990 and continued as Chairman until 2006. The society has been sponsoring the Sir Michael Weir Annual Lecture in his honour. Family Weir met his first wife, Alison Walker, at Oxford. They were married from 1953 until 1974 and had four children, including writer and comedian Arabella Weir. In 1976, Weir married Hilary Reid, with whom he had two children. He died in London on 22 June 2006. Honours He was appointed CMG in 1974 and KCMG in 1980. References General Specific 1925 births 2006 deaths People educated at Dunfermline High School Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Alumni of SOAS University of London Alumni of the University of London Scottish Arabists Ambassadors of the United Kingdom to Egypt Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George People from Dunfermline Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Air Force officers British expatriates in Myanmar British expatriates in Iraq British expatriates in Qatar British expatriates in Bahrain British expatriates in the United Arab Emirates