Hugh Low
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugh Low, GCMG was a British
colonial administrator and naturalist
. After a long residence in various colonial roles in Labuan, he became the first successful British administrator in the Malay Peninsula
. His methods became models for future administrators. He made the first documented ascent of Mount Kinabalu
in 1851. Both Kinabalu's highest peak as well as the deep gully on the other side of the mountain are named after him.
, England
, the son of a Scottish
horticulturist, also named Hugh. At an early age, he acquired botanical expertise working in the family nursery
. At 20, his father sent him on a collecting expedition to South East Asia. He based himself in Singapore
but soon joined Sir James Brooke, the White Rajah, in Sarawak
. In the months following he became well enough acquainted with interior of Sarawak to write a definitive book on it on his return home. In 1847, Brooke was appointed Governor of the recently established British
colony of Labuan
and Consul General of Borneo
. He gave Low the post of Colonial Secretary (1848-1850). In 1848, Low returned to Far East
, meeting and marrying on the way Catherine Napier, daughter of William Napier
Esq., newly appointed as Lt. Governor of Labuan. In Labuan Low acquired administrative experience, fluency in Malay
and an enduring reputation as a naturalist, although he quarrelled with geologist/naturalist James Motley
. He was Police Magistrate from 1850 to 1877. It was also from Labuan he made his three visits to Mount Kinabalu
, the first in March 1851 and twice with Spenser St. John, the consul General of Brunei
, in 1858.
In April 1877, Low was transferred to the Malay Peninsula
and became the fourth Resident of Perak
(1877 — 1889). By the terms of the Pangkor Treaty, the Resident was an adviser whose decision were binding in all matters except for custom or religion. The first Resident had been murdered in 1874, precipitating a war that left nearly all high-ranking Malay
officials either dead or in exile. Low's appointment marked a return to civil authority.
In his first year (1877) he laid down the principle that in order to retain their right to the mining land that they owned, owners of mining land were obliged to see that their land was worked. Within eight years, he saw slavery abolished in the state. In 1885 he established the first railway line in the Malay Peninsula from Taiping to Port Weld (now Kuala Sepetang).
In his 12 years in Perak, Low firmly established a peaceful administration. He created a state council that included the principal Malay, Chinese
and British leaders and was notably successful in making use of prominent local leaders at most levels of his administration.
For example he cultivated the friendship of Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee
who was his confidant and his means of getting other Chinese miners in Perak to use modern British mining equipment by first having Ah Quee experiment with them so all could see the results to be benefitted from. So close was this relationship that when Ah Quee was done an injustice through an article published in Harpers Magazine in 1891, Sir hugh felt compelled to write in and set the record straight.
He worked closely with Raja Yusef (the Raja Muda) and Raja Dris (later Sultan Idris) to restore order, pay off the state's debt of 800,000 Straits Dollars, and reestablish confidence in the British residential system.
Apart from his administrative achievements, Low was also involved in the experimental planting and research on commercial tropical crops including rubber
, coffee
, black pepper
and tea
. Rubber cultivation in Malaysia began with Sir Hugh Low. In 1882 he planted rubber seeds and grew seven trees at the gardens at Kuala Kangsar.
Low also helped set up the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
. For his contributions to the British Empire
he was honored with the CMG
in 1879, the KCMG in 1883 and the GCMG in 1889. He is often considered the first successful British administrator in the Malay Peninsula, whose methods became models for subsequent British colonial operation in the entire South East Asia Region.
During his time there was a controversy between James Innes, British magistrate in Selangor,
and Sir Hugh Low, Resident of Perak, over the issue of debt-slavery in Malaya. Innes attempted to implicate Low, accusing him of abetting the practice of slavery in Perak when he was actually trying to abolish it.
Sir Hugh Low retired from his post as Resident of Perak in 1889, leaving a credit balance of 1.5 million Straits Dollars.
Low died on April 18, 1905 in Alassio
, Italy
.
named to commemorate his work as collector, naturalist
and orchidologist:
Plants
Orchids
Mammals
Insects
and places:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial administrator and naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
. After a long residence in various colonial roles in Labuan, he became the first successful British administrator in the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
. His methods became models for future administrators. He made the first documented ascent of Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
in 1851. Both Kinabalu's highest peak as well as the deep gully on the other side of the mountain are named after him.
Career
Low was born in Upper ClaptonUpper Clapton
Upper Clapton is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is bounded by the Hackney districts of Stamford Hill to the west, Lower Clapton and Lea Bridge to the south and the Haringey district of South Tottenham to the north...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
horticulturist, also named Hugh. At an early age, he acquired botanical expertise working in the family nursery
Clapton Nursery
The Clapton Nursery also known as Mackay's Clapton Nursery and later Low's Clapton Nursery was a plant nursery established in the early 19th century by John Bain Mackay in Upper Clapton, London, and noted for its introductions of Australian and South American plants into cultivation.The nursery...
. At 20, his father sent him on a collecting expedition to South East Asia. He based himself in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
but soon joined Sir James Brooke, the White Rajah, in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. In the months following he became well enough acquainted with interior of Sarawak to write a definitive book on it on his return home. In 1847, Brooke was appointed Governor of the recently established British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colony of Labuan
Labuan
Labuan is a federal territory in East Malaysia. It is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. Labuan's capital is Victoria and is best known as an offshore financial centre offering international financial and business services via Labuan IBFC since 1990 as well as being an offshore support...
and Consul General of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. He gave Low the post of Colonial Secretary (1848-1850). In 1848, Low returned to Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, meeting and marrying on the way Catherine Napier, daughter of William Napier
William Napier
William Napier VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:...
Esq., newly appointed as Lt. Governor of Labuan. In Labuan Low acquired administrative experience, fluency in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
and an enduring reputation as a naturalist, although he quarrelled with geologist/naturalist James Motley
James Motley
James Motley was a Yorkshireman closely associated with South Wales and Borneo.Born in Leeds and educated in York and St John's College, Cambridge he spent at least some of his youth in South Wales where his father, a woolstapler, had investments in iron, coal, and tin works, being an early...
. He was Police Magistrate from 1850 to 1877. It was also from Labuan he made his three visits to Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
, the first in March 1851 and twice with Spenser St. John, the consul General of Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, in 1858.
In April 1877, Low was transferred to the Malay Peninsula
Malay Peninsula
The Malay Peninsula or Thai-Malay Peninsula is a peninsula in Southeast Asia. The land mass runs approximately north-south and, at its terminus, is the southern-most point of the Asian mainland...
and became the fourth Resident of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
(1877 — 1889). By the terms of the Pangkor Treaty, the Resident was an adviser whose decision were binding in all matters except for custom or religion. The first Resident had been murdered in 1874, precipitating a war that left nearly all high-ranking Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
officials either dead or in exile. Low's appointment marked a return to civil authority.
In his first year (1877) he laid down the principle that in order to retain their right to the mining land that they owned, owners of mining land were obliged to see that their land was worked. Within eight years, he saw slavery abolished in the state. In 1885 he established the first railway line in the Malay Peninsula from Taiping to Port Weld (now Kuala Sepetang).
In his 12 years in Perak, Low firmly established a peaceful administration. He created a state council that included the principal Malay, Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and British leaders and was notably successful in making use of prominent local leaders at most levels of his administration.
For example he cultivated the friendship of Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee
Chung Keng Quee
Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee was the founder and administrator of modern Taiping. He was a millionaire philanthropist and known as an innovator in the mining of tin. He was involved in many other industries including farming, pawnbroking and logging. He was respected by both Chinese and European...
who was his confidant and his means of getting other Chinese miners in Perak to use modern British mining equipment by first having Ah Quee experiment with them so all could see the results to be benefitted from. So close was this relationship that when Ah Quee was done an injustice through an article published in Harpers Magazine in 1891, Sir hugh felt compelled to write in and set the record straight.
He worked closely with Raja Yusef (the Raja Muda) and Raja Dris (later Sultan Idris) to restore order, pay off the state's debt of 800,000 Straits Dollars, and reestablish confidence in the British residential system.
Apart from his administrative achievements, Low was also involved in the experimental planting and research on commercial tropical crops including rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
, black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
and tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
. Rubber cultivation in Malaysia began with Sir Hugh Low. In 1882 he planted rubber seeds and grew seven trees at the gardens at Kuala Kangsar.
Low also helped set up the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
The Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society is a scholarly journal published by the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society or MBRAS. The journal covers topics of historical interest concerning peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Singapore...
. For his contributions to the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
he was honored with the CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1879, the KCMG in 1883 and the GCMG in 1889. He is often considered the first successful British administrator in the Malay Peninsula, whose methods became models for subsequent British colonial operation in the entire South East Asia Region.
During his time there was a controversy between James Innes, British magistrate in Selangor,
and Sir Hugh Low, Resident of Perak, over the issue of debt-slavery in Malaya. Innes attempted to implicate Low, accusing him of abetting the practice of slavery in Perak when he was actually trying to abolish it.
Sir Hugh Low retired from his post as Resident of Perak in 1889, leaving a credit balance of 1.5 million Straits Dollars.
Low died on April 18, 1905 in Alassio
Alassio
Alassio is a town and "comune" of 11.312 inhabitants in the province of Savona situated in the North West of Italy and approximately 80 km from the French border.Alassio is known for its natural beauty and scenic views...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Honours
Several speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
named to commemorate his work as collector, naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
and orchidologist:
Plants
- Rhododendron lowii, RhododendronRhododendronRhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
- Nepenthes lowiiNepenthes lowiiNepenthes lowii , or Low's Pitcher-Plant, is a tropical pitcher plant endemic to Borneo. It is named after Hugh Low, who discovered it on Mount Kinabalu...
, pitcher plantPitcher plantPitcher plants are carnivorous plants whose prey-trapping mechanism features a deep cavity filled with liquid known as a pitfall trap. It has been widely assumed that the various sorts of pitfall trap evolved from rolled leaves, with selection pressure favouring more deeply cupped leaves over... - Vatica lowiiVatica lowiiVatica lowii is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family.-Distribution:Vatica lowii is found in Indonesia and Malaysia.It is an Endangered species threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
Orchids
- Dimorphorchis lowii, DimorphorchisDimorphorchisDimorphorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
(Originally Vanda, then Arachnis) - Dendrobium lowii, DendrobiumDendrobiumDendrobium is a huge genus of orchids. It was established by Olof Swartz in 1799 and today contains about 1,200 species. The genus occurs in diverse habitats throughout much of south, east and southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Borneo, Australia, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and New Zealand...
- Paphiopedilum lowiiPaphiopedilum lowiiPaphiopedilum lowii is a species of orchid endemic to western and central Malesia.-External links:...
, Lady's slipperLady's SlipperLady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium... - Plocoglottis lowii, PlocoglottisPlocoglottisPlocoglottis is a genus of orchids ....
- Malaxis lowii, MalaxisMalaxisMalaxis, commonly Adder's Mouth, is a genus of terrestrial and semiepiphytic orchids. The generic name signifies "smooth" and alludes to the tender texture of the lamina. There are approximately 250 species....
Mammals
- Pen-tailed Treeshrew, Ptilocercus lowii
- Low's Squirrel, Sundasciurus lowii
Insects
- Sarothrocera lowii, a beetle
- Neorina lowii, a butterfly
- Papilio lowiPapilio lowiThe Great Yellow Mormon or Asian Swallowtail , is a butterfly of the Papilionidae family. It is found in the Borneo, Indonesia, and the Phillipines .Wingspan:...
, a butterfly
and places:
- Low's Peak, the highest peak of Southeast AsiaSoutheast AsiaSoutheast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, on Mount KinabaluMount KinabaluMount Kinabalu is a prominent mountain on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is located in the East Malaysian state of Sabah and is protected as Kinabalu National Park, a World Heritage Site. Kinabalu is the tallest peak in Borneo's Crocker Range and is the tallest mountain in the Malay...
, BorneoBorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia.... - Low's Gully
- Hugh Low Street, at Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. The street name has changed to Jalan Sultan Iskandar, but locals still call it Hugh Low Street. It was once a busy two-way street, but since the name change and turning into a one-way street, the street has lost its glamour. There was once an arch; this was removed in 1986 when Hugh Low Street turned into one-way street.
External links
- Hugh Low Hugh Low's work on orchids
Books by Hugh Low
- Sarawak, Its Inhabitants and Productions: Being Notes During a Residence in that Country with His Excellency Mr. Brooke By Hugh Low (1848)
- A Botanist in Borneo: Hugh Low's Sarawak Journals, 1844-1846 By Hugh Low, Bob Reece, Phillip Cribb Contributor Bob Reece, Phillip Cribb Published by Natual History Publications (Borneo), 2002; ISBN 9838120650, ISBN 9789838120654
- Sĕlĕsǐlah (book of the Descent) of the Rajas of Brunei By Hugh Low Published by [s.n.], 1880
- The Journal of Sir Hugh Low; Perak, 1887: Perak, 1887 By Hugh Low, transcribed and edited by Emily Sadka Published by Govt. Print. Off., 1955
Papers about Hugh Low
- Sir Hugh Low, G.C.M.G (1824-1905) by Charles F. Cowan in J.Soc.Biblphy.nat.Hist. v.4 pp.327-343 (1968)