Quick Facts
Biography
Stuart Laing (born 22 July 1948) was a British diplomat, and is now Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
Career as diplomat
Laing entered the diplomatic service in 1970. During his service in the Diplomatic Service, Laing held the following offices:
- Deputy Ambassador to the Czech Republic—1989-1992
- Deputy Ambassador to Saudi Arabia—1992-1995
- High Commissioner to Brunei—1998-2002
- Ambassador to Oman—2002-2005
- Ambassador to Kuwait—2005-2008
Academic career
Laing graduated from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge in 1970 having studied Classics. He was appointed Master of his old college Corpus Christi on 1 October 2008 succeeding Oliver Rackham. He researches and writes on Arab and East African history and in 2012 he published, jointly with Robert Alston, Unshook till the end of time, a book on the history of Britain’s relationship with Oman. The degree of M.Phil. was conferred to him in 2013 for a thesis on the political history of Oman.
Personal life
Laing is a keen amateur musician; he plays keyboard instruments and the oboe. His other recreations are desert travel and hill-walking. Laing is married to Sibella (daughter of Sir Maurice Henry Dorman, herself a graduate in History of Newnham College, Cambridge) and has a son and two daughters.