Kim Philby

Date of Birth: January 1, 1912

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: May 11, 1988

Biography

Harold Adrian Russell “Kim” Philby was a high-ranking member of British intelligence who became a notorious double agent, passing information to the Soviet Union during and after World War II. Born on January 1, 1912, in Ambala, Punjab, British India, Philby’s early years were marked by privilege and academic excellence. He attended Westminster School and later Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was recruited by the Soviet intelligence service, the NKVD, in the early 1930s. Philby joined the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in 1940, rising through the ranks and eventually becoming the head of counter-espionage operations. Throughout his career, he passed critical information to the Soviets, including the identities of British agents and details of covert operations. His betrayal was suspected by several colleagues but was not confirmed until 1963, when he defected to the Soviet Union. In Moscow, Philby was celebrated as a hero and lived out the rest of his life under Soviet protection. He was awarded the Order of Lenin and other Soviet honors. Philby died on May 11, 1988, in Moscow, USSR.

5 Interesting Facts about Kim Philby

1. Philby was one of the Cambridge Five, a group of spies who infiltrated the British intelligence community on behalf of the Soviet Union.

2. He was awarded the Order of Lenin, one of the highest honors in the Soviet Union.

3. Philby’s father, St John Philby, was a renowned Arabist and adviser to King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia.

4. Despite suspicions, Philby maintained his position in MI6 for many years due to his charm and ability to deflect allegations.

5. He authored an autobiography titled “My Silent War,” which provides insight into his espionage activities.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Kim Philby

1. “To betray, you must first belong. I never belonged.”

2. “The last thing I wanted was to be a hero. I am not a hero. I am a servant.”

3. “I have always operated on the principle that it is better to let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”

4. “I was serving my country, but it was the wrong country.”

5. “The ideal spy is someone with no loyalty to anyone, and no one has any loyalty to him.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a government employee and later a defector in the Soviet Union, Philby’s net worth was never publicly recorded. However, his life was materially comfortable in the USSR, though he did not amass significant wealth.

Children

Kim Philby had five children with his second wife, Aileen Furse: Josephine, John, Tommy, Miranda, and Harry George. His relationship with his children was complex, especially after his defection.