Ismay, Lord (1887-1965), Hastings Lionel Ismay, was a British soldier and administrator. In 1908, he served on India’s frontier. During World War I (1914-1918), he commanded the army in British Somaliland (now part of Somalia). During World War II (1939-1945), Ismay served as chief of staff to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Lord Ismay became the first secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 1952. He served as chairman of the North Atlantic Council in 1956 until his retirement in 1957. Ismay was born in Naini Tal, India, on June 21, 1887. He was educated in the United Kingdom at Charterhouse School and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He was made a baron in 1947. Lord Ismay died on Dec. 17, 1965.
