Richard Graves MacDonnell
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell KCMG
CB
(Chinese name
: 麥當奴) (3 September 1814 – 5 February 1881) was an Anglo-Irish
lawyer, judge and colonial governor. His posts as governor included Governor of the British Settlements
in West Africa, Governor of Saint Vincent, Governor of South Australia, Governor of Nova Scotia
and Governor of Hong Kong
.
. He was a nephew of Robert James Graves
and his first cousins included Sir William Collis Meredith
, Edmund Allen Meredith
, John Dawson Mayne
and Francis Brinkley
, who he made his aide-de-camp
in Hong Kong. MacDonnell entered Trinity College, Dublin
in 1830, was elected a scholar in 1833, and graduated B.A. in 1835, M.A. in 1836, LL.B
in 1845, and LL.D. in 1862.
. After four years there, amidst long breaks for his health travelling through the United States and Canada, he intended to hand in his resignation to Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey
and resume practice at the English bar. But, on 1 October 1847, Grey appointed him Governor of the British settlements
on Gambia, a post he held for a further four years.
While holding these positions in Gambia, MacDonnell (a cousin of the explorers Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton
and Admiral Richard Charles Mayne
) spent much of his time indulging his passion for exploration, also organising punitive campaigns against unruly native tribes. His expeditions opened up the interior of Africa from the Gambia River
to the Senegal River
. The military expeditions which he accompanied against native tribes who had long oppressed the traders of the river were a success and extended the limits of British commerce in the region. On one visit to a native king an ambush was laid for him, and he narrowly avoided being assassinated. In return, the British government sent four hundred men to inflict a summary chastisement, with MacDonnell acting as Captain of one of the volunteer companies.
In 1852, (when he was also gazetted C.B.) he was nominated as lieutenant governor of St. Lucia, but without taking up the post he was sent on 10 January 1853 to become administrator and captain-general of the island of St. Vincent
. He was Lt.-General of St Vincent 1853–54.
who had been acting since Sir Henry Young
left. Shortly before leaving for Australia, in 1856 he was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
.
Arriving in Australia, MacDonnell was soon involved in the debate on the composition of the legislature; MacDonnell favoured a single chamber while the majority of colonists preferred a two-house system. Eventually a two-house system prevailed, although the upper house had a property franchise. Difficulties between the governor and officials led to several changes of government. He extended railway and telegraph communications within the colony and opened up valuable copper mines on Yorke Peninsula
, whilst increasing the progress in agricultural and pastoral pursuits.
MacDonnell's passion for exploration greatly aided in opening up the interior of Australia, in particular the Murray River
, and he developed many of the natural resources of the colony. MacDonnell was considered by the colonists – whose confidence he enjoyed in the highest degree – one of the best South Australian Governors. He was possessed of considerable ability and energy of character, which, added to a pleasant and genial manner, made him exceedingly popular. He left South Australia on 4 March 1862.
, MacDonnell was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia
from 28 May 1864 until October 1865, taking up residence at Government House (Nova Scotia)
. His arrival coincided with the Confederation of Canada which he made no secret of being in opposition to, and he refused to become a tool of either the British Colonial Secretary or the Governor-General of Canada, telling Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald
, "You shall not make a mayor of me, I can tell you!" Confederation went ahead, making MacDonnell's tenure in Nova Scotia
a short one. He was succeeded by one of Nova Scotia's most distinguished sons, General Sir William Williams, 1st Baronet, of Kars.
, a position in which he served until 1872. During his tenure, MacDonnell developed Victoria Peak
, which would eventually become the premier residential quarters in Hong Kong, accessible only to rich European merchants. MacDonnell also ordered the construction of a hospital which catered to the needs of the local Chinese population. In addition, he legalised gambling in Hong Kong which led to social problems and was later made illegal once again. In 1871 he was gazetted K.C.M.G.
Finally, MacDonnell's administration was marred by a huge budget deficit, which resulted in the government asking the HSBC
for a financial aid package. The administration was also damaged by the actions of the Canton
Customs agency, who patrolled the waters off Hong Kong and boarded ships to search for smuggled goods. This was called by Hong Kong's British merchant community a blockade, and affected Hong Kong's economy for the next 20 years.
, who lived at Stanhope Place, Hyde Park
and Percy Cross Lodge, Fulham, before retiring to 5 Brunswick Square, Brighton
. Sir Richard and Lady MacDonnell lived near Hyde Park
in London and after his retirement in 1872 they spent much time in Italy
and France, dying at Hyères
, 5 February 1881. They are buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
, and died without children.
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....
CB
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...
(Chinese name
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 麥當奴) (3 September 1814 – 5 February 1881) was an Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish
Anglo-Irish was a term used primarily in the 19th and early 20th centuries to identify a privileged social class in Ireland, whose members were the descendants and successors of the Protestant Ascendancy, mostly belonging to the Church of Ireland, which was the established church of Ireland until...
lawyer, judge and colonial governor. His posts as governor included Governor of the British Settlements
Colonial Heads of the Gambia
This is a list of colonial administrators in The Gambia from the establishment of the Fort James by the United Kingdom in 1815 until The Gambia's independence in 1965.-Commandants of Fort James :* Alexander Grant, 1815–1821...
in West Africa, Governor of Saint Vincent, Governor of South Australia, Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
and Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
.
Early life
Richard Graves MacDonnell of the MacDonnells of Tynekill was born in Dublin 8 September 1814, the second son of the Rev. Richard MacDonnell, Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, and Jane (1793–1882), the second daughter of The Very Rev. Richard GravesThe Very Rev. Richard Graves
Richard Graves was a theological scholar and author of the classic in its time, Graves on the Pentateuch. He was one of the seven Senior Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, a member of the Royal Irish Academy and the Dean of Ardagh....
. He was a nephew of Robert James Graves
Robert James Graves
Robert James Graves, M.D., F.R.C.S. was an eminent Irish surgeon after whom Graves' disease takes its name. He was President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Fellow of the Royal Society of London and the founder of the Dublin Journal of Medical Science...
and his first cousins included Sir William Collis Meredith
William Collis Meredith
The Hon. Sir William Collis Meredith, Kt., Q.C., D.C.L. was Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Quebec.-Early life:...
, Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith
Edmund Allen Meredith LL.D., was Under Secretary of State for Canada; a prison reformer, writer, and the third principal of McGill University from 1846 to 1853.-Early life in Ireland:...
, John Dawson Mayne
John D. Mayne
The Rt. Hon. John Dawson Mayne P.C. was a British lawyer and legal expert who practised largely in the Madras Presidency. He is largely remembered as the author of Mayne's Hindu Law regarded as a classic and the most authoritative book on the subject.- Life :Mayne was born on December 31, 1828 to...
and Francis Brinkley
Francis Brinkley
Francis Brinkley was an Irish newspaper owner, editor and scholar who resided in Meiji period Japan for over 40 years, where he was the author of numerous books on Japanese culture, art and architecture, and an English-Japanese Dictionary...
, who he made his aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
in Hong Kong. MacDonnell entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1830, was elected a scholar in 1833, and graduated B.A. in 1835, M.A. in 1836, LL.B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1845, and LL.D. in 1862.
Governor in Gambia and the West Indies
MacDonnell was called to the Irish bar in 1838, and to the English bar, at Lincoln’s Inn on 25 January 1841. On 20 July 1843, he was appointed to the new post of Chief Justice of The GambiaThe Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
. After four years there, amidst long breaks for his health travelling through the United States and Canada, he intended to hand in his resignation to Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey
Henry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey
Henry George Grey, 3rd Earl Grey , known as Viscount Howick from 1807 until 1845, was an English statesman.-Background:Grey was the eldest son of Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, by his wife the Hon...
and resume practice at the English bar. But, on 1 October 1847, Grey appointed him Governor of the British settlements
Colonial Heads of the Gambia
This is a list of colonial administrators in The Gambia from the establishment of the Fort James by the United Kingdom in 1815 until The Gambia's independence in 1965.-Commandants of Fort James :* Alexander Grant, 1815–1821...
on Gambia, a post he held for a further four years.
While holding these positions in Gambia, MacDonnell (a cousin of the explorers Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton
Richard Francis Burton
Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton KCMG FRGS was a British geographer, explorer, translator, writer, soldier, orientalist, cartographer, ethnologist, spy, linguist, poet, fencer and diplomat. He was known for his travels and explorations within Asia, Africa and the Americas as well as his...
and Admiral Richard Charles Mayne
Richard Charles Mayne
Richard Charles Mayne RN CB FGS MP was a Royal Navy Captain, later Admiral and explorer.Richard Mayne was the son of Sir Richard Mayne KCB and the grandson of Judge Edward Mayne. Both his father and grandfather were graduates of Trinity College, Dublin,. Richard Mayne was educated at Eton...
) spent much of his time indulging his passion for exploration, also organising punitive campaigns against unruly native tribes. His expeditions opened up the interior of Africa from the Gambia River
Gambia River
The Gambia River is a major river in West Africa, running from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward through Senegal and The Gambia to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul...
to the Senegal River
Sénégal River
The Sénégal River is a long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.The Sénégal's headwaters are the Semefé and Bafing rivers which both originate in Guinea; they form a small part of the Guinean-Malian border before coming together at Bafoulabé in Mali...
. The military expeditions which he accompanied against native tribes who had long oppressed the traders of the river were a success and extended the limits of British commerce in the region. On one visit to a native king an ambush was laid for him, and he narrowly avoided being assassinated. In return, the British government sent four hundred men to inflict a summary chastisement, with MacDonnell acting as Captain of one of the volunteer companies.
In 1852, (when he was also gazetted C.B.) he was nominated as lieutenant governor of St. Lucia, but without taking up the post he was sent on 10 January 1853 to become administrator and captain-general of the island of St. Vincent
Saint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
. He was Lt.-General of St Vincent 1853–54.
Governor of South Australia
Described as a 'dominant personality' and having gained a reputation for forthrightness and intolerance MacDonnell was appointed the sixth Governor of South Australia, arriving on 9 June 1855, taking over from Boyle FinnissBoyle Finniss
Boyle Travers Finniss was the first Premier of the Colony of South Australia, serving from 24 October 1856 to 20 August 1857.-Early life:...
who had been acting since Sir Henry Young
Henry Young
Sir Henry Edward Fox Young, KCMG was the fifth Governor of South Australia, serving in that role from 2 August 1848 until 20 December 1854. He was then the first Governor of Tasmania, from 1855 until 1861.-Early life:...
left. Shortly before leaving for Australia, in 1856 he was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
.
Arriving in Australia, MacDonnell was soon involved in the debate on the composition of the legislature; MacDonnell favoured a single chamber while the majority of colonists preferred a two-house system. Eventually a two-house system prevailed, although the upper house had a property franchise. Difficulties between the governor and officials led to several changes of government. He extended railway and telegraph communications within the colony and opened up valuable copper mines on Yorke Peninsula
Yorke Peninsula
The Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located north-west and west of Adelaide in South Australia, Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. It has geographic coordinates of...
, whilst increasing the progress in agricultural and pastoral pursuits.
MacDonnell's passion for exploration greatly aided in opening up the interior of Australia, in particular the Murray River
Murray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
, and he developed many of the natural resources of the colony. MacDonnell was considered by the colonists – whose confidence he enjoyed in the highest degree – one of the best South Australian Governors. He was possessed of considerable ability and energy of character, which, added to a pleasant and genial manner, made him exceedingly popular. He left South Australia on 4 March 1862.
Governor of Nova Scotia
On the recommendation of his predecessor, George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of NormanbyGeorge Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby
George Augustus Constantine Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby, GCB, GCMG, PC , styled Viscount Normanby between 1831 and 1838 and Earl of Mulgrave between 1838 and 1863, was a British Liberal politician and colonial governor.-Background:Normanby was born in London, the son of Constantine Phipps, 1st...
, MacDonnell was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
from 28 May 1864 until October 1865, taking up residence at Government House (Nova Scotia)
Government House (Nova Scotia)
Government House of Nova Scotia is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, as well as that in Halifax of the Canadian monarch...
. His arrival coincided with the Confederation of Canada which he made no secret of being in opposition to, and he refused to become a tool of either the British Colonial Secretary or the Governor-General of Canada, telling Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, "You shall not make a mayor of me, I can tell you!" Confederation went ahead, making MacDonnell's tenure in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
a short one. He was succeeded by one of Nova Scotia's most distinguished sons, General Sir William Williams, 1st Baronet, of Kars.
Governor of Hong Kong
On 19 October 1865, MacDonnell was appointed as the sixth Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, a position in which he served until 1872. During his tenure, MacDonnell developed Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
, which would eventually become the premier residential quarters in Hong Kong, accessible only to rich European merchants. MacDonnell also ordered the construction of a hospital which catered to the needs of the local Chinese population. In addition, he legalised gambling in Hong Kong which led to social problems and was later made illegal once again. In 1871 he was gazetted K.C.M.G.
Finally, MacDonnell's administration was marred by a huge budget deficit, which resulted in the government asking the HSBC
HSBC
HSBC Holdings plc is a global banking and financial services company headquartered in Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. it is the world's second-largest banking and financial services group and second-largest public company according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine...
for a financial aid package. The administration was also damaged by the actions of the Canton
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
Customs agency, who patrolled the waters off Hong Kong and boarded ships to search for smuggled goods. This was called by Hong Kong's British merchant community a blockade, and affected Hong Kong's economy for the next 20 years.
Marriage and retirement
In 1847, MacDonnell married Blanche Ann, daughter of Francis Skurray of Beckington, SomersetSomerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, who lived at Stanhope Place, Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
and Percy Cross Lodge, Fulham, before retiring to 5 Brunswick Square, Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
. Sir Richard and Lady MacDonnell lived near Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
in London and after his retirement in 1872 they spent much time in 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...
and France, dying at Hyères
Hyères
Hyères , Provençal Occitan: Ieras in classical norm or Iero in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France....
, 5 February 1881. They are buried in Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery
Kensal Green Cemetery is a cemetery in Kensal Green, in the west of London, England. It was immortalised in the lines of G. K. Chesterton's poem The Rolling English Road from his book The Flying Inn: "For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen; Before we go to Paradise by way of...
, and died without children.
Publications with his involvement
- The Church of the Future, an address by the Rev. Thomas Binney in 1859
- Christian Union, as discussed by the Bishop of Adelaide
- "Sir R. C. MacDonnell, &c.,, 1859
- A lecture on ‘Australia,’ Dublin, 1864
Places named after him
- The MacDonnell RangesMacDonnell RangesThe MacDonnell Ranges of the Northern Territory, are a long series of mountain ranges located in the centre of Australia , and consist of parallel ridges running to the east and west of Alice Springs...
in the south of the Northern TerritoryNorthern TerritoryThe Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia. - Port MacDonnellPort MacDonnell, South AustraliaPort MacDonnell is a small port about southeast of Adelaide and south of Mount Gambier, in the Limestone Coast region of south-eastern South Australia. Port MacDonnell is the southernmost town in South Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 623...
near Mount GambierMount Gambier, South AustraliaMount Gambier is the largest regional city in South Australia located approximately 450 kilometres south of the capital Adelaide and just 17 kilometres from the Victorian border.... - MacDonnell Creek in the northern Flinders RangesFlinders RangesFlinders Ranges is the largest mountain range in South Australia, which starts approximately north west of Adelaide. The discontinuous ranges stretch for over from Port Pirie to Lake Callabonna...
. - MacDonnell RoadMacDonnell RoadMacDonnell Road, is a road in the affluent and ultra-expensive Mid-Levels district on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. MacDonnell Road is named after former Hong Kong Governor Richard Graves MacDonnell. Starting from Garden Road, the road runs westward in the Mid-Levels and ends in Kennedy Road.The...
in Mid-levelsMid-levelsMid-levels is an expensive residential area on Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. It is located halfway up Victoria Peak, directly above Central...
on Hong Kong IslandHong Kong IslandHong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
. - Sir Richard Peninsula between Murray MouthMurray MouthMurray Mouth is the point at which the River Murray meets the southern Southern Ocean. The Murray Mouth's location is changeable. Historical records show that the channel out to sea moves along the sand dunes over time...
and Goolwa beach, SA - The town of BlanchetownBlanchetown, South AustraliaBlanchetown is a small township in South Australia, on the bank of the Murray River, 130 km northeast of Adelaide. The Blanchetown Bridge is the western-most of the four crossings of the Sturt Highway over the Murray River. During the nineteenth century it was an important...
, the inner harbour of Streaky Bay is known as Blancheport and the station and waterhole of Blanchewater on MacDonnell Creek, all in South Australia, were named after his wife.
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
- Hercules Henry Graves MacDonnell