David Kelly

Dr. David Christopher Kelly CMG (May 17, 1944 – July 17, 2003) was an employee of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), an expert in biological warfare, and a former United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq. His talk with a journalist about the British government's dossier on weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in Iraq inadvertently caused a major political scandal, and he was found dead days after appearing before a Parliamentary committee investigating it. The Hutton Inquiry, a public inquiry into his death, found that he had committed suicide.

Biography

Kelly was born in the Rhondda in Wales. He graduated from Leeds University with a BSc, followed by an MSc at the University of Birmingham. In 1971, he received his doctorate in microbiology from Oxford University. In 1984, he joined the civil service, working at what is now DSTL Porton Down, as head of the Defence Microbiology Division. He moved from there to work as an ad hoc advisor to the MoD and the Foreign Office.

Related Topics:
Rhondda - Wales - Leeds University - University of Birmingham - 1971 - Microbiology - Oxford University - DSTL - Porton Down - Foreign Office

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His experience with biological weapons at Porton Down led to his selection as a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq following the end of the Gulf War. Kelly's work as a member of the UNSCOM team led him to visit Iraq 37 times, and his success in uncovering Iraq's biological weapons programme caused Rolf Ekéus to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He was made a Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1996.

Related Topics:
Biological weapons - United Nations - Iraq - Gulf War - UNSCOM - Rolf Ekéus - Nobel Peace Prize - Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George - 1996

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Although never a member of the intelligence services, the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) regularly sought out his opinion on Iraq and other issues. David Kelly became a member of the Bahá'í Faith in about 1999. Bahá'í teachings condemn suicide and discourage a close involvement with party politics.

Related Topics:
Secret Intelligence Service - Bahá'í Faith - 1999

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