Richard Graves MacDonnell

Sir Richard MacDonnell

Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell KCMG , CB ( Chinese  麥 當 奴  /  麦 当 奴 ; born September 3, 1814 in Dublin ; † February 5, 1881 ) was a British lawyer, judge and colonial administrator. He was appointed governor in the colonies of Gambia , St. Vincent , South Australia , Nova Scotia and Hong Kong .

Life

MacDonnell was born in Dublin on September 3, 1814 . He later attended Trinity College there and received his BA in 1835 and his MA in LL.B. in 1836. In 1845 and 1862 the LL.D. on.

MacDonnell was admitted to the Irish bar in 1838 and to the English bar on January 25, 1841. On July 20, 1843 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gambia and on October 1, 1847 governor of the British colony in Gambia. During his tenure, MacDonnell led several research expeditions into the interior of Africa and opened up the Gambia and Senegal rivers . He also organized and accompanied some military operations with success against locals who had suppressed the traders on the river.

In 1852 he was appointed lieutenant governor of St. Lucia , but without having assumed that office, he was appointed governor of the island of St. Vincent on January 10, 1853 . He was Lieutenant Governor of St. Vincent from 1853 to 1854. From June 8, 1855 to March 4, 1862 he was then Governor of South Australia , where he helped to develop the Murray River and develop the colony. Thereafter, from May 28, 1864 to October 1865 was governor of Nova Scotia .

On October 19, 1865, MacDonnell was appointed the sixth governor of Hong Kong . He served in that post until 1872. During his tenure, MacDonnell developed Victoria Peak , which over time became a posh residential area in Hong Kong only accessible to the rich and famous. MacDonnell also ordered the construction of a hospital for the local Chinese population. He also legalized gambling in Hong Kong, which led to widespread social problems and was later declared illegal again.

Eventually MacDonnell's administration was weakened by a huge budget deficit that forced the government to ask HSBC for a financial aid package. Administration was also hampered by the operations of the Canton Customs Agency, which patrolled the waters off Hong Kong and searched the ships for smuggled goods. This was called a blockade by Hong Kong's British traders, and it affected Hong Kong's economy for the next 20 years. In retirement after his active service, MacDonnell received the Order of the Bath (CB) on February 12, 1852 and was ennobled by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on January 28, 1856. On February 23, 1871, he was awarded the Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) MacDonnell.

MacDonnell married Blanche Ann in 1847 († February 5, 1881 near Hyères , France ).

He was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery .

Works with his participation

• The Church of the Future , an address by the Rev. Thomas Binney in 1859
• Christian Union , as discussed by the Bishop of Adelaide
• Sir RC MacDonnell, & c. 1859
• A lecture on 'Australia,' Dublin , 1864

Places that are named after him

• The MacDonnell Ranges in the southern Northern Territory of Australia .
• Port MacDonnell near Mount Gambier .
• MacDonnell Creek in Northern Flinders Range National Park .
• MacDonnell Road in Hong Kong .
• The town of Blanchetown and the Blanchewater station and watering hole on MacDonnell Creek, all in South Australia, are named after his wife.

literature

• Richard Graves MacDonnell . In: Dictionary of Canadian Biography . 24 volumes, 1966–2018. University of Toronto Press, Toronto ( English , French ).
• CC Manhood: MacDonnell, Sir Richard Graves (1814-1881) . In: Douglas Pike (Ed.): Australian Dictionary of Biography . Volume 5. Melbourne University Press, Carlton (Victoria) 1974, ISBN 0-522-84061-2 (English).

predecessor	Office	successor
Charles Fitzgerald	Governor of Gambia 1847-1851	Arthur Edward Kennedy
John Campbell	Governor of St. Vincent 1853–1854	Edward John Eyre
William Mercer	Governor of Hong Kong 1866–1872	Arthur Edward Kennedy