Harold Forsyth

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Forsyth and the second or maternal family name is Mejía.

Harold Winston Forsyth Mejía (born 27 May 1951) is a Peruvian diplomat and former politician who has served as Peru's ambassador to the United States, Italy, Colombia, the People's Republic of China and Japan. From 1995 until 2000, he sat for one term in the Congress of the Republic of Peru.

Harold Forsyth
Forsyth in 2011
25th Permanent Representative of Peru to the Organization of American States
In office 3 August 2021 – 7 December 2022
President	Pedro Castillo
Preceded by	Hugo de Zela Martínez
Succeeded by	Gustavo Adrianzén (2023)
Ambassador of Peru to the United States
In office 3 August 2011 – January 2015
Preceded by	Luis Valdivieso Montano
Succeeded by	Luis Miguel Castilla
Deputy Minister-Secretary General of Foreign Relations
In office 16 March 2006 – 28 July 2006
President	Alejandro Toledo
Prime Minister	Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
Minister	Óscar Maúrtua
Preceded by	Javier Gonzales Terrones
Succeeded by	Gonzalo Gutiérrez Reinel
Member of Congress
In office 26 July 1995 – 26 July 2000
Constituency	National
Personal details
Born	Harold Winston Forsyth Mejía (1951-05-27) 27 May 1951 (age 74) Huanta, Ayacucho, Peru
Political party	Independent (2000–present)
Other political affiliations	Union for Peru (1995–2000) We are Peru (2000)
Spouse	María Verónica Sommer Mayer
Children	3 (including George)
Parents	Willy Forsyth Cauvi Lucciola Mejía de Forsyth
Alma mater	Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Diplomat

Early life and education

Harold Forsyth was born to Willy Forsyth and Lucciola Mejia de Forsyth in 1951.^[1] He graduated from the Champagnat School in Lima and received a bachelor's degree in journalism at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.^[2] Forsyth later earned a graduate certificate at the Diplomatic Academy of Peru.^[2]

Career

In his early career, Forsyth held a variety of diplomatic postings to Chile, Venezuela, Canada, and Germany, and was seconded as an international observer to elections monitoring missions in Colombia, Mexico, and Guatemala.^[3]

Political career

Forsyth was compelled to resign from the Peruvian foreign service by Alberto Fujimori and, in the 1995 election, he successfully stood for election to Congress, holding his seat for a single, five-year term under the Union for Peru.^[1] During this period he also hosted the program "Convocatoria" on CPN Radio.^[2]

Return to Foreign Service

Later returning to the foreign service, Forsyth served as Peruvian ambassador to Colombia from 2001 to 2004, as ambassador to Italy from 2004 to 2006, as ambassador to China from 2009 to 2011, as ambassador to the United States from 2011 to 2014, and, from 2017 to 2021, as ambassador to Japan.^[1][3][4][5] Between his postings to Italy and China, Forsyth returned to Peru, where he served as deputy foreign minister.^[1]

Personal life

Forsyth is married and has three children, including footballer-politician George Forsyth.^[2][6] Forsyth's wife, María Verónica, is a former Miss Chile.^[6]

Works

• Forsyth, Harold (2001). Conversaciones con Javier Pérez de Cuéllar. Lima. ISBN 9972709329. OCLC 52631190.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)