Who Is Katharine Gun? Age, Biography and Wiki
Katharine Gun was born in 1974, which makes her 51 years old as of 2025. She is a British linguist, translator, and former intelligence translator known for her courageous decision to leak classified information regarding the Iraq War. After her whistleblowing act in 2003, she gained national and international attention, becoming a symbol of integrity in activism and political dissent. Gun’s actions highlighted the ethical dilemmas associated with government surveillance and the political machinations behind war.
| Occupation | Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1974 (age 51) |
| Age | 51 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | |
| Country |
Popularity
Katharine Gun's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
As a public figure, Katharine Gun has chosen to maintain a level of privacy regarding specific details about her physique. However, she is generally perceived as having a modest stature and a healthy appearance. The average height for women in the UK is approximately 5'4" (163 cm), and Gun appears to fall into this range, complemented by a fit physique.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
While Gun has generally kept her personal relationships private, as of 2025, she is reported to be in a relationship with a supportive partner. Her past experiences in the spotlight, especially surrounding the whistleblowing incident, suggest that she values loyalty and understanding in her relationships. Gun has often mentioned how her career choices impact her family life and has expressed gratitude for the support of her loved ones during turbulent times.
Katharine moved to Taiwan in 1977 with her parents, Paul and Jan Harwood. Her father studied Chinese at Durham University and taught at Tunghai University in the city of Taichung, central Taiwan. She has a younger brother who was teaching in Taiwan.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Katharine Gun’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million. This figure is derived not only from her work as a translator and her whistleblowing endeavors but also from speaking engagements, advocacy work, and potentially from book deals and media appearances. Her commitment to humanitarian causes has also seen her engage in numerous platforms, elevating not just her visibility, but her financial standing as well.
Career, Business and Investments
Katharine’s career began in language translation, a passion she pursued before her whistleblowing activities. After leaking classified documents that revealed the UK's role in the Iraq War, she faced legal challenges but has since become a prominent advocate for civil liberties and human rights. In terms of investments, she appears focused on socially responsible avenues, reflecting her values and commitment to making the world a better place. In addition to her translation career, Gun has engaged in speaking events and panel discussions focusing on privacy rights and governmental accountability.
She graduated with an upper second-class degree, then took a job as an assistant English teacher with the JET program in Hiroshima, Japan. She left teaching in 1999, and after some temporary jobs, finding it difficult to find work as a linguist, she applied to GCHQ in 2001 after reading a newspaper advertisement for the organisation.
She was previously unaware of GCHQ, and later said, "I didn't have much idea about what they did...I was going into it pretty much blind. Most people do."
Social Network
In today’s digital age, social media plays a crucial role in connecting public figures with their fans. Katharine Gun has a notable presence across various platforms, including Twitter and Instagram. She uses these platforms to engage in discussions about civil rights, government accountability, and to share updates on her projects and initiatives.
Outraged by the email, she took a printed copy of it home. After contemplating the email over the weekend, she gave it to a friend who was acquainted with journalists. In February, she travelled to London to take part in the demonstration against the impending invasion of Iraq.
She heard no more of the email, and had all but forgotten it until Sunday 2 March, when she saw it reproduced on the front page of The Observer newspaper. Less than a week after the Observer story, on Wednesday 5 March, she confessed to her line manager at GCHQ that she had leaked the email, and was arrested.
In a BBC interview with Jeremy Paxman, she said that she had not raised the matter with staff counsellors as she "honestly didn't think that would have had any practical effect". She spent a night in police custody, and eight months later was charged with breaking the Official Secrets Act.
While waiting to hear whether she would be charged, she embarked on a postgraduate degree course in global ethics at the University of Birmingham.
Education
Katharine Gun received her education in linguistics and translation, honing her skills that would later play a significant role in her career. Although specific details about her educational institutions are not widely publicized, her expertise in languages and her understanding of international politics were undoubtedly influenced by her academic background.
After spending her childhood in Taiwan, where she attended Morrison Academy until age 16, she returned to Britain to study for her A-levels at Moira House School, a girls' boarding school in Eastbourne. Her upbringing later led her to describe herself as a "third culture kid". In 1993 she began studying Japanese and Chinese at Durham University.
