Sir Terence Clark kbe cmg cvo joined the British Diplomatic Service in 1955. For much of his diplomatic career he was involved with the Middle East both in the region and at the Foreign Office. Having studied Arabic in Lebanon, he served in Bahrain, Jordan, Syria, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and briefly Libya. After a period in Europe, he returned to the region as Ambassador to Iraq in 1985, during the Iraq/Iran war, and to Oman in 1990, during the first Gulf War.

Since leaving the Diplomatic Service he has kept up close connections with the Middle East and is at present Vice-President of the Anglo Omani Society and Chairman of the Friends of the Basrah Museum. He is the author of several books and many articles on the history and politics of the region.