Thomas Haining

Thomas Nivison Haining (15 March 1927 – 17 July 2005), was a British diplomat. He was ambassador to Mongolia from 1979 to 1982. He married in 1955 and had a son.

Career
In 1952, Haining entered the British government's Foreign Service, later transferring to the Diplomatic Service, and saw service in Vienna, Moscow, Rome and New York. From 1979 to 1982 he was British ambassador to the Mongolian People's Republic.

Following his retirement, Haining settled in Brechin in Angus, Scotland. He became an honorary research associate in history at the University of Aberdeen and honorary president of the Chinese Studies Group. He wrote about Mongolia and the history of the Mongols in academic journals and discussed modern Mongolia being caught between Russian and Chinese influences.

In 1991, Blackwell published Genghis Khan: His Life and Legacy by Paul Ratchnevsky, which Haining had edited, translated from the German and contributed to. The Royal Asiatic Society reviewer commented: "The translation is excellent. Mr Haining is to be congratulated on his contribution to what is in many respects an improvement even on Ratchnevsky's splendid work."

Honours
Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (1983).