William Des Vœux
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Sir George William Des Voeux, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name 德輔) (22 September 1834 - 15 December 1909) was a British colonial governor who served as Governor of Fiji (1880-1885), Newfoundland and Labrador (1886-1887), and Hong Kong (1887-1891).
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[edit] Early life
Des Voeux was born on 22 September, 1834 in Baden, Germany. He was of French descent - his ancestor Marin de Bacquencourt Des Voeux settled in Portarlington, Ireland in the early 1700s, having come from Picardy in northern France. Des Voeux attended a public school in London before starting his studies at Charterhouse School and Balliol College, Oxford, but left without a degree in 1856 and moved to Canada, where he finished his B.A. at the University of Toronto and became a Barrister Upper in Canada at 1861.
[edit] Colonial services
Des Voeux became stipendiary magistrate in British Guiana from 1863 to 1869, where he championed for native causes. He reorganized and codified old French system of law when he was the Administrator and Colonial Secretary of St. Lucia between 1869 and 1880. Afterwards, Des Voeux was appointed Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner Western Pacific from 1880 to 1885. Then, he was appointed Governor of Newfoundland from 1886-1887
[edit] Governor of Hong Kong
In 1887, Des Voeux was appointed as the tenth Governor of Hong Kong, a position he held until 1891. This would be the last post Des Voeux would hold in the Colonial Services. During his tenure, Hongkong Electric Holdings was established, providing electricity supplies for Hong Kong Island. Also, the Peak Tram began operation during this time, providing relatively affortable transportation for people living on The Peak.
[edit] Post-Governorship
After Des Voeux's time as Governor of Hong Kong ended, he entered retirement. He was awarded a GCMG in 1893. In 1903, he published his memoirs called My colonial service in British Guiana, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Fiji, Australia, Newfoundland and Hong Kong, with interludes.
[edit] Personal life
Des Voeux married Marion Denison in 1875. They had five sons and three daughters, with three sons deceased. Des Voeux died in London on 15 December, 1909.
[edit] Honours
[edit] Places named after him
Des Voeux Road Central, located in Central District, and Des Voeux Road West, located in the Western District in Hong Kong Island were both named after him.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
| Political Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon |
Governor of Fiji 1880-1885 |
Succeeded by: Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell |
| Preceded by: Sir John Hawley Glover |
Colonial Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador 1886-1887 |
Succeeded by: Sir Henry Arthur Blake |
| Preceded by: Major-General N.G. Cameron, Acting Administrator |
Governor of Hong Kong 1887-1891 |
Succeeded by: Major-General Digby Barker, Acting Administrator |
