Philippe Deane Gigantès (August 16, 1923 – December 9, 2004) was a veteran of the Second World War, journalist, war correspondent, POW of the Korean War, author, television commentator, Greek minister of culture, and Canadian senator.
War and journalism
Gigantès served in the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. After the war, he became a journalist, working for the London Observer, in Greece, North Africa, and South Asia, from 1946 to 1961.
Gigantès covered the Korean War as the war correspondent from International News Service.
Whilst covering the Korean War he was taken prisoner, and spent 33 months in a North Korean prison camp. During this time he was interned with George Blake. After his release he wrote the book I was a Captive in Korea, which he published under the name “Philip Deane,” and returned to his career in journalism. He became the Washington correspondent for the London Observer and The Globe and Mail.
From 1965 to the 1970s, he was a journalist in Canada. During the 1970s he was speech writer and top aide to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Greek Minister of Culture
He worked as a United Nations official. In 1964 he was appointed to the post of associate Greek Minister of Culture, serving until 1965. He later resumed his career in the media as a television commentator
After his graduation he served as Dean of Arts at Bishop's University and Dean of Arts and Science at University of Lethbridge.