Age, Biography and Wiki

Kenneth Benton (Kenneth Carter Benton) was born on 4 March, 1909 in Wolverhampton, England, is an English MI6 officer and diplomat. Discover Kenneth Benton's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 90 years old?

Popular As Kenneth Carter Benton
Occupation Author, Intelligence officer
Age 90 years old
Zodiac Sign Pisces
Born 4 March, 1909
Birthday 4 March
Birthplace Wolverhampton, England
Date of death 14 October, 1999
Died Place Chichester, England
Nationality

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 4 March. He is a member of famous officer with the age 90 years old group.

Kenneth Benton Height, Weight & Measurements

At 90 years old, Kenneth Benton height not available right now. We will update Kenneth Benton's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
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Who Is Kenneth Benton's Wife?

His wife is Peggie Lambert

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Peggie Lambert
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Kenneth Benton Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Kenneth Benton worth at the age of 90 years old? Kenneth Benton’s income source is mostly from being a successful officer. He is from . We have estimated Kenneth Benton's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income officer

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Timeline

1909

Kenneth Carter Benton, CMG (4 March 1909 – 14 October 1999) was an English MI6 officer and diplomat from 1937–68.

Following retirement, Benton began a second career as writer of spy and crime thrillers.

Benton attended Wolverhampton School, and was first employed teaching French in an English prep school, then teaching English in Florence and Vienna.

During this time, he earned a degree in French, German and Italian as an external student at London University.

1937

In 1937, in Vienna, Benton was offered a job by Captain Thomas Kendrick, the British Passport Control Officer for Vienna, who he had met initially through his future wife, Peggie Lambert.

He was subsequently interviewed by Maurice Jeffes and Admiral Hugh Sinclair, then chief of MI6.

Benton quickly realised that his role in the Passport Control Office was in fact a cover for intelligence work for MI6.

1938

After the Annexation of Austria in 1938, Kenneth and Peggie (married in March of that year) were posted to Riga, he as acting vice consul; after the Soviet occupation of Latvia two years later, he returned to England and after briefing at Bletchley Park was subsequently posted to Madrid as head of MI6's Section V, dealing with intercepted intelligence traffic and identifying German spies travelling through Spain.

Benton reported technically to Hamilton Stokes, Head of the Madrid SIS Station, but because of the confidential nature of his decoding work, he was not allowed to discuss ISOS traffic.

This situation created friction between the two men, and Benton was eventually appointed head of a separate station, named 'Iberia'.

The cover that the Visa office provided allowed Benton and his wife to create a database of information on individuals leaving and entering Spain, which could be compiled with other intelligence reports to identify patterns.

Benton's team identified 19 spies during his time in Madrid, including the Double Cross agents TREASURE, ARTIST, TRICYCLE and GARBO.

1941

In 1941, Kim Philby was appointed head of the Iberian section, which dealt with both Spain and Portugal, and became Benton's boss.

1943

Shortly after the Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943, Kenneth and Peggie were posted to Rome; Kenneth had been appointed head of the MI6 station attached to the new British Embassy, which as a result of rationing and ongoing disruption in Italy, was only opened in July 1944.

1953

Benton's later career included a further posting to Madrid in 1953, then to London from 1956–62 as head of recruitment for SIS.

1963

He later articulated the emotional effect of Philby's outing as a Soviet agent in 1963:

His sentiments were shared by his wife:

1968

He was subsequently posted to Lima, Peru and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as Deputy Director for Latin America (DDLA), and retired from the Service in 1968.

Following retirement to Appledore, Kent, then to Chichester, West Sussex, Kenneth began a second career as a writer of spy, crime thrillers, and historical fiction, drawing on his experiences as intelligence officer and diplomat, and his extensive travels.

1974

He became president of the Crime Writers Association in 1974-5, succeeding Dick Francis.

Benton published 11 novels across several genres, two of which were published under the pseudonym James Kirton.

Those perhaps closest to his experiences in MI6, "though avoiding anything which could compromise or damage his former Service" are the six titles featuring a recurring hero, the police advisor and Counter-terrorism expert Peter Craig.