Peter Ramsbotham was born 8 October 1919, younger son of 1st Viscount Soulbury, PC, GCMG, GCVO, OBE, MC; (he is brother and heir presumptive to 2nd Viscount Soulbury). He was educated at Eton College and Magdalen College, Oxford (Honorary Fellow, 1991). He married 1st, in 1941, Frances Blomfield (died 1982), having two sons and (one daughter deceased); 2nd, 1985, Dr Zaida Hall, widow of Ruthven Hall.

Ramsbotham entered the Foreign Service, October 1948, and his career included: Political Division of Allied Control Commission, Berlin [Germany], November 1948; transferred to Foreign Office, 1950; 1st Secretary, 1950; Head of Chancery, UK Delegation, New York [United States], 1953; Foreign Office, 1957; Counsellor, 1961, Head of Western Organisations and Planning Department; Head of Chancery, British Embassy, Paris [France], 1963-67; Foreign Office, 1967-69 (Sabbatical year, Institute of Strategic Studies, 1968); High Commissioner, Nicosia [Cyprus], 1969-71; Ambassador to Iran, 1971-74; Ambassador to the United States, 1974-77; Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda, 1977-80.

His honours and awards include: GCMG 1978 (KCMG 1972; CMG 1964); GCVO 1976; DL. He died on 9 April 2010.