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John Anderson (governor)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Anderson GCMG
KCB
JP
(23 June 1858 – 24 March 1918) was a British
colonial governor, who was once the Governor of Ceylon
and Governor of Straits Settlements.
. Before he was twenty, he graduated MA
at Aberdeen University, gaining a first class in mathematics and being awarded the gold medal of the year.
as a second class clerk. In 1887, he was Bacon Scholar of Gray's Inn, and in the following year he was the Inns of Court
student.
He proceeded with Sir John F. Dickinson in 1891 to Gibraltar
, in order to inquire into the matters connected with the Registry of the Supreme Court. He was next appointed as the private secretary to Sir R. Meade, Permanent Under-Secretary of the State for the Colonies, in 1892 he served as the British Agent for Behring Sea Arbitration.
From 1883 to 1897 he edited the Colonial Office List, later he appointed as the principal clerk. He became the secretary to the Conference between Mr. Joseph Chamberlain
and the Colonial Premiers in that year he had considerable opportunities of gaining an intimate knowledge of the feelings of the self-governing colonies. For the second time he was despatched to Gilbraltar in 1899, on this occasion to inquire into the rates of pay of the Civil Service there. He returned to London
in the same year and remained until 1901, where Mr. Joseph Chamberlain
chose him as Colonial Office
representative to accompany T.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales, then the Duke and Duchness of York, on their famous tour around British Empire
in the Ophir
. It was during that trip that Sir Anderson saw for the first time the colony over which he would preside.
In 1902, again he acted as the Secretary to the Colonial Conference, and in 1903 he received thanks of the Canadian Government and the Confederation medal for services rendered in connection with the Alaska Boundary question and other matters.
In 1904 he was appointed as Governor of Straits Settlements where he served till 1911. In 1916 he was appointed as Governor of Ceylon
. In Ceylon he played a major role in settling many problems and riots that started in 1915 and was suppressed harshly by the British.
Sir John Anderson suddenly fell ill at Queens Cottage, Nuwara Eliya
in 1918 and died on 24 March 1918. It is recorded that his Maha Mudaliyar
, Sir
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
, who happened to be at his bedside, wrote:
"Sir John was the first Governor of this country to die while his term of office in Sri Lanka and was as yet unfinished, and every circumstances combined to make his death a matter of genuine and universal grief, so that it seemed almost a personal loss. May our people of Lanka take an example from this Great and Good man!"
in 1898 and K.C.M.G.
in 1901. In 1906, he was awarded LL.D. from his former alma mater.
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....
KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(23 June 1858 – 24 March 1918) was a 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...
colonial governor, who was once the Governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
and Governor of Straits Settlements.
Education
He was the only son of Mr. John Anderson, the Superintendent of the Gordon Mission, AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
. Before he was twenty, he graduated MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
at Aberdeen University, gaining a first class in mathematics and being awarded the gold medal of the year.
Career
Two years after graduating, he entered the Colonial OfficeColonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
as a second class clerk. In 1887, he was Bacon Scholar of Gray's Inn, and in the following year he was the Inns of Court
Inns of Court
The Inns of Court in London are the professional associations for barristers in England and Wales. All such barristers must belong to one such association. They have supervisory and disciplinary functions over their members. The Inns also provide libraries, dining facilities and professional...
student.
He proceeded with Sir John F. Dickinson in 1891 to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, in order to inquire into the matters connected with the Registry of the Supreme Court. He was next appointed as the private secretary to Sir R. Meade, Permanent Under-Secretary of the State for the Colonies, in 1892 he served as the British Agent for Behring Sea Arbitration.
From 1883 to 1897 he edited the Colonial Office List, later he appointed as the principal clerk. He became the secretary to the Conference between Mr. Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
and the Colonial Premiers in that year he had considerable opportunities of gaining an intimate knowledge of the feelings of the self-governing colonies. For the second time he was despatched to Gilbraltar in 1899, on this occasion to inquire into the rates of pay of the Civil Service there. He returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the same year and remained until 1901, where Mr. Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain
Joseph Chamberlain was an influential British politician and statesman. Unlike most major politicians of the time, he was a self-made businessman and had not attended Oxford or Cambridge University....
chose him as Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
representative to accompany T.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales, then the Duke and Duchness of York, on their famous tour around 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...
in the Ophir
Ophir
Ophir is a port or region mentioned in the Bible, famous for its wealth. King Solomon is supposed to have received a cargo of gold, silver, sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes and peacocks from Ophir, every three years.- Citations :...
. It was during that trip that Sir Anderson saw for the first time the colony over which he would preside.
In 1902, again he acted as the Secretary to the Colonial Conference, and in 1903 he received thanks of the Canadian Government and the Confederation medal for services rendered in connection with the Alaska Boundary question and other matters.
In 1904 he was appointed as Governor of Straits Settlements where he served till 1911. In 1916 he was appointed as Governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
. In Ceylon he played a major role in settling many problems and riots that started in 1915 and was suppressed harshly by the British.
Sir John Anderson suddenly fell ill at Queens Cottage, Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
in 1918 and died on 24 March 1918. It is recorded that his Maha Mudaliyar
Sri Lankan Mudaliyars
Mudali was a colonial title & office in Sri Lanka. The Portuguese colonials created the Mudaliyar class in the 17th century by enlisting natives of different castes form the coastal areas, who were most likely to serve the Portuguese masters with utmost loyalty. The Dutch continued the practice of...
, Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
Solomon Dias Bandaranaike
Sir Solomon Dias Abeywickrema Jayatilleke Senewiratna Rajakumaruna Kadukeralu Bandaranaike, KCMG, Maha Mudaliyar, JP was the chief native representative, interpreter and adviser to the Governor of Ceylon by appointment as Head Mudaliyar and therefore was one of the most powerful personalities in...
, who happened to be at his bedside, wrote:
"Sir John was the first Governor of this country to die while his term of office in Sri Lanka and was as yet unfinished, and every circumstances combined to make his death a matter of genuine and universal grief, so that it seemed almost a personal loss. May our people of Lanka take an example from this Great and Good man!"
Honors
He was knighted with C.M.G.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 1898 and K.C.M.G.
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 1901. In 1906, he was awarded LL.D. from his former alma mater.