Anthony Blunt

Anthony Frederick Blunt (September 26, 1907 - March 26 1983) was an English art historian and the "Fourth Man" of the Cambridge Five, a group of spies working for the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Related Topics:
September 26 - 1907 - March 26 - 1983 - English - Art historian - Cambridge Five - Spies - Soviet Union - Cold War

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He was born in Bournemouth, where his father had been a vicar. He studied mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1930, and became a teacher of French. He became a Fellow of the college in 1932, and in 1965 was Slade Professor of Fine Art in Cambridge. He was a member of the Cambridge Apostles, a secret society which at that time was Marxist, formed from members of Cambridge University. He was also a homosexual and close aide of Guy Burgess, and it is said he seduced Julian Bell the poet.

Related Topics:
Bournemouth - Vicar - Mathematics - Trinity College, Cambridge - 1930 - French - 1932 - 1965 - Slade Professor of Fine Art - Cambridge Apostles - Marxist - Homosexual - Guy Burgess - Julian Bell

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After visiting Russia in 1933, he was recruited by the NKVD (forerunner of the KGB) in 1934. He joined the British Army in 1939 and in 1940 was recruited to MI5, the military intelligence department, where he had access to Ultra intelligence from decoded Enigma messages. After the war he became director of the Courtauld Institute of Art (1947-1974).

Related Topics:
1933 - NKVD - KGB - 1934 - British Army - 1940 - MI5 - Ultra - Enigma - Courtauld Institute of Art

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In 1945 he became Surveyor of the King's Pictures, and retained the post under Queen Elizabeth II, for which work he was knighted in 1956. He retained the post until 1972. He was particularly knowledgeable on the works of Nicolas Poussin.

Related Topics:
1945 - Surveyor of the King's Pictures - Queen Elizabeth II - Knight - 1956 - 1972 - Nicolas Poussin

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MI5 learned of his espionage in 1963 from an American, Michael Straight, whom he had successfully recruited. Blunt confessed to MI5 on April 23, 1964, but his spying career remained an official secret until he was publicly named by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1979. His knighthood was immediately revoked, followed by his honorary fellowship of Trinity College. According to MI5 papers released in 2002, the organization was told by writer Lady Moura Budberg in 1950 that Blunt was a member of the Communist Party, but the information was ignored.

Related Topics:
1963 - American - Michael Straight - 1964 - Official secret - Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher - 1979 - MI5 - Communist Party

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He was the brother of writer Wilfrid Jasper Walter Blunt and of numismatist Christopher Evelyn Blunt.

Related Topics:
Wilfrid Jasper Walter Blunt - Numismatist - Christopher Evelyn Blunt

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The Untouchable, a 1997 novel by John Banville, is based on the life and character of Anthony Blunt, its protagonist Victor Maskell being modelled after Blunt himself.

Related Topics:
The Untouchable - John Banville

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