John Gardiner Austin
John Gardiner Austin CMG | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 7 August 1812 |
| Died | 25 July 1900 (aged 87) |
| Occupation(s) | farmer, colonial official |
John Gardiner Austin CMG (Chinese: 柯士甸; 7 August 1812 – 25 July 1900) was a British colonial administrator. He was Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras 1864–1867, and Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1868 to 1879, acting as Administrator (acting Governor) of the colony in 1877.
Background and early life
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Austin was born in Lowlands, British Guiana to William Austin (1759-1819) and Methetabel Percy[1] His father was a land owner born Barbados and son of slave and plantation owner Colonel Thomas Austin (b. 1729 in England - d. 1806 in Barbados).[2] Austin later sent to England to study.[3]
Career
[edit]Austin was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras in February 1864,[4] and served for two years until 1867.
In 1868, he was appointed Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong,[5] serving as such until 1879. He was also Auditor General of the colony from 1870 to 1879,[6] and Administrator (acting Governor) from March to April 1877. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in March 1876, for his services in Hong Kong.[7]
Family
[edit]Austin married, in 1836, Emma Wilday (1 February 1811 – 9 May 1879), and was the father of six sons and four daughters, including:
- Charles Wilday Austin (19 January 1837 – 1 December 1862)
- John Gardiner Austin (19 July 1838 – 8 March 1902), who in September 1901 was appointed a Member of the Barbados Legislative council.[8] Sir Harold Austin was his son.
- Mehetabel Percy Austin (29 February 1840 – 27 December 1943), who married in 1862 Axel Dickson (1826–1899), a member of the Swedish parliament of Scottish origin. She was one of few people born on leap day to celebrate a centennial.[9]
Legacy
[edit]Mount Austin on Hong Kong Island, Austin Road and Austin Avenue in Kowloon were named after him. The Austin station of the MTR was so-named due to its proximity to Austin Road West, and the naming may be more influenced by geographical convenience rather than any direct link to Austin himself.
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.ancestry.ca/genealogy/records/john-gardiner-austin-24-22br4hp?srsltid=AfmBOopAiAdyzIJRQDE3d-GGlQIsAoTwx1pG6Wm6BOMPcHGDB5E2VhTz
- ^ https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/2146630745
- ^ https://friendsofallencounty.org/pdf/austin/austinpresentations/The_Descendants_of_Thomas_Austin_of_Barbados-Roger_Austin-2003.pdf
- ^ "No. 22814". The London Gazette. 2 February 1864. p. 483.
- ^ "No. 23353". The London Gazette. 18 February 1868. p. 772.
- ^ Audit Commission: Directors of Audit to date
- ^ "No. 24305". The London Gazette. 14 March 1876. p. 1899.
- ^ "No. 27357". The London Gazette. 20 September 1901. p. 6165.
- ^ "Leap year centenarian". The Times. No. 48552. London. 29 February 1940. p. 11.
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