Joseph Luns
Joseph Luns | |
|---|---|
Luns in 1979 | |
| 5th Secretary General of NATO | |
| In office 1 October 1971 – 25 June 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Manlio Brosio |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Carrington |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 13 October 1956 – 6 July 1971 | |
| Prime Minister | See list
|
| Preceded by | Johan Beyen |
| Succeeded by | Norbert Schmelzer |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 11 May 1971 – 1 October 1971 | |
| In office 23 February 1967 – 5 April 1967 | |
| In office 3 July 1956 – 3 October 1956 | |
| Minister for Foreign Policy | |
| In office 2 September 1952 – 13 October 1956 | |
| Prime Minister | Willem Drees |
| Preceded by | Eelco van Kleffens (1947) |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Antoine Marie Hubert Luns 28 August 1911 Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 17 July 2002 (aged 90) Brussels, Belgium |
| Party | Catholic People's Party (1945–1972) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Baroness Lia van Heemstra
(m. 1939; died 1990) |
| Relations |
|
| Children | 2 |
| Parent |
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| Education | |
| Occupation |
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| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Royal Netherlands Navy |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | Warrant officer |
| Unit | Netherlands Coastguard |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
Joseph Marie Antoine Hubert Luns (Dutch: [ˈjoːzəf ˈlʏns]; 28 August 1911 – 17 July 2002) was a Dutch politician, diplomat and jurist who served as the fifth Secretary General of NATO from 1971 to 1984, being the longest-serving officeholder since the office was established in 1952. Prior to this, he was Minister of Foreign Affairs, starting in 1956. Luns was a member of the now-defunct Catholic People's Party (KVP), later merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
Luns attended Saint Ignatius Gymnasium in Amsterdam from April 1924 until June 1930. He was conscripted in the Coastguard of the Royal Netherlands Navy serving as a warrant officer from June 1930 until July 1931. He applied at the University of Amsterdam in July 1931 majoring in law before transferring to the Leiden University in November 1932, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1933 and graduating with a Master of Laws degree in July 1937. He applied at the London School of Economics of the University of London in January 1938 for a postgraduate education in economics, obtaining a Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1938.
After joining the diplomatic service, Luns was appointed Minister for Foreign Policy in September 1952, and Minister of Foreign Affairs in October 1956. In September 1971 Luns was nominated as the next Secretary General of NATO. He resigned as a member of the House of Representatives the same day he was installed as secretary general, serving from 1 October 1971 to 25 June 1984.
He retired after 31 years in national politics and became active in the public sector, where he was a diplomat and lobbyist for several economic delegations on behalf of the government and as an advocate for United States–European Union relations and European integration.