Peter Ricketts was born 30 September 1952, the son of Maurice and Dilys Ricketts. He was educated at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School and Pembroke College, University of Oxford (MA; Honorary Fellow, 2007). In 1980, he married Suzanne Julia Horlington, having one son and one daughter.

Ricketts joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1974, and his career included the following posts: Singapore, 1975-78; UK Delegation to NATO, 1978-81; FCO, 1981-86, Assistant Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary [Sir Geoffrey Howe], 1983-86; Washington [United States], 1986-89; FCO, 1989-94, Head, Hong Kong Department, 1991-94; Economic and Financial Counsellor, Paris, 1994-97; Deputy Political Director, FCO, 1997-99; Director, International Security, FCO, 1999-2000; Chairman, Joint Intelligence Committee, Cabinet Office (on secondment), 2000-01; Political Director, FCO, 2001-03; UK Permanent Representative, UK Delegation to NATO, 2003-06; Permanent Under-Secretary of State, and Head of Diplomatic Service, 2006-10; National Security Adviser, 2010-11; Ambassador to France, 2012-16.