Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Hart, 1st Baronet, GCMG
(20 February 1835 – 20 September 1911), was a British consular official in China, who served as the second Inspector General of China's Imperial Maritime Custom Service
(IMCS) from 1863 to 1911.
County Armagh
, Ulster
, in 1835. His father, Henry Hart (1806-1875) worked in distilleries, and married a farmer’s daughter, Ann Edgar, in 1834. Robert Hart was educated at a Wesleyan school in Taunton, Somerset, then at Wesley Connexional School, Dublin, and at the age of 15 was sent to Queen’s University, Belfast, where he graduated in 1853. He would become, after his retirement, Pro-Chancellor of Queen’s University.
nomination as student interpreter in the China consular service. His first destination was Hong Kong
, where he served in the Superintendency of Trade under the orders of Sir John Bowring
, the Governor of Hong Kong. In September 1854, Robert Hart was appointed to the British vice-consulate in Ningpo as supernumary interpreter. As a dispute broke out between the British Consul and the Portuguese Consul, Robert Hart was given the responsibility of managing the consulate for several months. Hart’s calmness and good judgement in the face of brutalities between the Chinese and Portuguese earned him favourable commendations from his superiors and led to his nomination to act as secretary to the allied commissioners governing the Canton in March 1858. Hart first served under Sir Harry Parkes
, then, in October 1858, was promoted to the British Consulate as interpreter under the orders of Sir Rutherford Alcock
. The following year, Hart resigned to take up the post of local inspector of customs. From 1859 to 1861, this position allowed him to develop his expertise in the management of customs in China. In 1861, he was promoted to acting Inspector-General, and was named Inspector-General of Foreign Customs in 1863, a position he held until his retirement in 1907. In 1870 he was sued in the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
for defamation by Baron von Gumpach who he had hired on behalf of a Chinese government to establish a college in Beijing. The case ultimately went to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
, in 1873, under the name Hart v Gumpach which remitted the case back to the Supreme Court after finding Hart should have been allowed to plead certain defences.
(IMCS), Hart's main duties included collecting customs duties for the Chinese government. His advice led to the improvement of China's port and navigation facilities. Hart was known for his managerial and diplomatic skills, and befriended many Chinese and Western officials, which allowed him to direct customs operations without interruption, including during periods of turmoil such as the Boxer Rebellion
.
Yixin (奕訢), also known as Prince Gong (恭親王, 1833-1898) was head of the Zongli Yamen
during the time of Hart's tenure in the Maritime Customs and the two men held each other in high regard. Hart was so well known in the Zongli Yamen that he had an affectionate nickname there of "our hart" (wǒmen de Hèdé. 我們的赫德).
He held his post till his retirement in 1910, although he left China on leave in April 1908, and was succeeded temporarily by his brother in law, Sir Robert Bredon, and then formally by Sir Francis Aglen. Hart died on 20 September 1911 after a cardiac decline following a bout of pneumonia. He was buried on 25 September at Bisham, Berkshire.
, and received a baronet
cy from Britain.
Hart had also been asked to become minister plenipotentiary at Peking in 1885, on the retirement of Sir Thomas Wade
, but declined the honor as it would have caused a conflict of interest
, stating he preferred to "teach China to be a better fisherman instead of handing her fish."
His name is still remembered in Beijing through a
street name in the Legation quarter, and also a street Hart Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui
, Hong Kong.
There is also a large primary school in Portadown which bears his name.
In 1906 he was awarded a Grand Cross of the Order of the Danneborg
by the King of Denmark.
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....
(20 February 1835 – 20 September 1911), was a British consular official in China, who served as the second Inspector General of China's Imperial Maritime Custom Service
Chinese Maritime Customs Service
The Chinese Maritime Customs Service was a Chinese governmental tax collection agency and information service from its founding in 1854 until its bifurcation in 1949 into services operating in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and in the People's Republic of China...
(IMCS) from 1863 to 1911.
Early life
Robert Hart was born into a devout Methodist family in Dungannon Street, PortadownPortadown
Portadown is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town sits on the River Bann in the north of the county, about 23 miles south-west of Belfast...
County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, in 1835. His father, Henry Hart (1806-1875) worked in distilleries, and married a farmer’s daughter, Ann Edgar, in 1834. Robert Hart was educated at a Wesleyan school in Taunton, Somerset, then at Wesley Connexional School, Dublin, and at the age of 15 was sent to Queen’s University, Belfast, where he graduated in 1853. He would become, after his retirement, Pro-Chancellor of Queen’s University.
China
In spring of the following year, Robert Hart received from his college a British Foreign OfficeForeign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
nomination as student interpreter in the China consular service. His first destination was Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where he served in the Superintendency of Trade under the orders of Sir John Bowring
John Bowring
Sir John Bowring, KCB was an English political economist, traveller, miscellaneous writer, polyglot, and the 4th Governor of Hong Kong.- Early life :...
, the Governor of Hong Kong. In September 1854, Robert Hart was appointed to the British vice-consulate in Ningpo as supernumary interpreter. As a dispute broke out between the British Consul and the Portuguese Consul, Robert Hart was given the responsibility of managing the consulate for several months. Hart’s calmness and good judgement in the face of brutalities between the Chinese and Portuguese earned him favourable commendations from his superiors and led to his nomination to act as secretary to the allied commissioners governing the Canton in March 1858. Hart first served under Sir Harry Parkes
Harry Smith Parkes
Sir Harry Smith Parkes was a 19th century British diplomat who worked mainly in China and Japan...
, then, in October 1858, was promoted to the British Consulate as interpreter under the orders of Sir Rutherford Alcock
Rutherford Alcock
Sir Rutherford Alcock KCB was the first British diplomatic representative to live in Japan.-Early life:Alcock was the son of the physician, Dr. Thomas Alcock, who practised at Ealing, near London. As he grew up, Alcock followed his father into the medical profession...
. The following year, Hart resigned to take up the post of local inspector of customs. From 1859 to 1861, this position allowed him to develop his expertise in the management of customs in China. In 1861, he was promoted to acting Inspector-General, and was named Inspector-General of Foreign Customs in 1863, a position he held until his retirement in 1907. In 1870 he was sued in the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
British Supreme Court for China and Japan
The British Supreme Court for China and Japan was a court established in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1865 to try cases against British subjects in China and Japan, and from 1883, Korea, under the principles of Extraterritoriality. The court also heard appeals from consular courts in...
for defamation by Baron von Gumpach who he had hired on behalf of a Chinese government to establish a college in Beijing. The case ultimately went to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
, in 1873, under the name Hart v Gumpach which remitted the case back to the Supreme Court after finding Hart should have been allowed to plead certain defences.
Inspector-General
As Inspector General of China's Imperial Maritime Custom ServiceChinese Maritime Customs Service
The Chinese Maritime Customs Service was a Chinese governmental tax collection agency and information service from its founding in 1854 until its bifurcation in 1949 into services operating in the Republic of China on Taiwan, and in the People's Republic of China...
(IMCS), Hart's main duties included collecting customs duties for the Chinese government. His advice led to the improvement of China's port and navigation facilities. Hart was known for his managerial and diplomatic skills, and befriended many Chinese and Western officials, which allowed him to direct customs operations without interruption, including during periods of turmoil such as the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
.
Yixin (奕訢), also known as Prince Gong (恭親王, 1833-1898) was head of the Zongli Yamen
Zongli Yamen
Zongli Yamen was the government body in charge of foreign affairs in imperial China during the late Qing dynasty. It was established by Prince Gong in 1861, following the Convention of Peking. It was abolished in 1901 and replaced with a Foreign Office of ministry rank.The former site of the...
during the time of Hart's tenure in the Maritime Customs and the two men held each other in high regard. Hart was so well known in the Zongli Yamen that he had an affectionate nickname there of "our hart" (wǒmen de Hèdé. 我們的赫德).
He held his post till his retirement in 1910, although he left China on leave in April 1908, and was succeeded temporarily by his brother in law, Sir Robert Bredon, and then formally by Sir Francis Aglen. Hart died on 20 September 1911 after a cardiac decline following a bout of pneumonia. He was buried on 25 September at Bisham, Berkshire.
Awards and recognition
His skills as Inspector-General were recognized by both Chinese and Western authorities, and he was bestowed several Chinese honorific titles, including the Red Button, or button of the highest rank, a Peacock's Feather, the Order of the Double Dragon, the Ancestral Rank of the First Class of the First Order for Three Generations, and the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He was also appointed a CMG, KCMG, and GCMGOrder 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....
, and received a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy from Britain.
Hart had also been asked to become minister plenipotentiary at Peking in 1885, on the retirement of Sir Thomas Wade
Thomas Francis Wade
Sir Thomas Francis Wade, GCMG, KCB , was a British diplomat and Sinologist who produced a syllabary in 1859 that was later amended, extended and converted into the Wade-Giles romanization for Mandarin Chinese by Herbert Giles in 1892...
, but declined the honor as it would have caused a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
, stating he preferred to "teach China to be a better fisherman instead of handing her fish."
His name is still remembered in Beijing through a
street name in the Legation quarter, and also a street Hart Avenue in Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tsim Sha Tsui , often abbreviated as TST, is an urbanized area in southern Kowloon, Hong Kong. The area is administratively part of the Yau Tsim Mong District. Tsim Sha Tsui East is a piece of land reclaimed from the Hung Hom Bay now east of Tsim Sha Tsui...
, Hong Kong.
There is also a large primary school in Portadown which bears his name.
In 1906 he was awarded a Grand Cross of the Order of the Danneborg
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
by the King of Denmark.
See also
- Ernest Mason SatowErnest Mason SatowSir Ernest Mason Satow PC, GCMG, , known in Japan as "" , known in China as "薩道義" or "萨道义", was a British scholar, diplomat and Japanologist....
who met Hart many times while he was British Minister in China, 1900-1906. (See Satow's diary). - Maria Jane Dyer to whom he proposed marriage in Ningbo 1858. She later married James Hudson Taylor
External links
- The Irish Contribution to Joseon Korea - OhmyNews International at English.ohmynews.com
- Sir Robert Hart Collection at Queen's University, Belfast
- Chinese Maritime Customs project at the University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
- Sir Robert Hart Memorial Primary School
- Sir Robert Hart at Bumali Broject