Charles Mitchell (colonial administrator)

Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell GCMG (1836 – 7 December 1899) was a lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Marines, before joining the Colonial Service, in which he served in British Honduras, British Guiana, Natal. He then served as Governor of Fiji, of the British Colony of Natal & Zululand (1881–1882), and of the Straits Settlements (1 February 1894 to 7 December 1899).

For other people named Charles Mitchell, see Charles Mitchell (disambiguation).

Sir
Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell
CMG KCMG GCMG
Charles Mitchell
14th Governor of the Straits Settlements
In office
1 February 1894 – 7 December 1899
MonarchVictoria
Preceded byWilliam Edward Maxwell
Succeeded bySir James Alexander Swettenham (acting)
7th Governor of Natal
In office
December 1889 – July 1893
MonarchVictoria
Preceded bySir Arthur Havelock
Succeeded byFrancis Haden (acting)
Acting Governor of the Leeward Islands
In office
1888–1888
MonarchVictoria
Preceded byJenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston
Succeeded bySir William Smith
4th Governor of Fiji
In office
January 1887 – February 1888
MonarchVictoria
Preceded bySir John Bates Thurston (acting)
Succeeded bySir John Thurston
3rd High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
January 1887 – February 1888
MonarchVictoria
Preceded bySir John Bates Thurston (acting)
Succeeded bySir John Thurston
Acting Governor of Natal
In office
22 December 1881 – 6 March 1882
MonarchVictoria
Preceded byRedvers Buller
Succeeded bySir Henry Bulwer
Personal details
Born1836
London, United Kingdom
Died7 December 1899(1899-12-07) (aged 62–63)
Singapore
Resting placeSt. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore
CitizenshipBritish
Spouse(s)Fanny Rice (d.1885)
Eliza Weldon,
ChildrenHugh Mitchell
ProfessionColonial Administrator, Royal Marines officer
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Branch/service Royal Marines
Years of service1852–1878
Rank Lieutenant Colonel

Career

Military

Mitchell attended the Royal Naval School and joined the Royal Marines in 1852.[1] He served with them in the Baltic campaigns from 1854 to 1856.[1] He retired from the marines in 1878 as a lieutenant-colonel.[1]

Civil career

Mitchell begin his colonial career as Colonial Secretary of British Honduras in July 1868. He also administrated the Government in 1870, 1874 and 1876.[1]

Mitchell was the Receiver General in British Guiana in 1877 and followed by Colonial Secretary of Natal in November 1877. He was the Acting Governor of Natal in 1881, 1882 and 1885–1886.[1]

Mitchell was the Governor of Fiji between 1887 and 1888.[1]

Mitchell administered the Government of Natal and Zululand in 1889 and was eventually appointed as the Governor in the October of the same year.[1][2]

Mitchell was the Governor of the Straits Settlement between 1894 and 1899.[3][4]

Personal life

Mitchell's first wife Fanny Rice died in 1885. He remarried to Eliza Weldon. He had a son, Colonel Hugh Mitchell of the Royal Marines.

Mitchell died on 7 December 1899, while in office as Governor of the Straits Settlements.[4] He was buried in St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore, his tombstone was erected "To the glory of God and in memory of His Excellency Lieutenant Colonel Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell Royal Marine Light Infantry, G.C.M.G. Governor of the Colony who died in Singapore on 7 December 1899. This tablet is erected by the members of the Civil Service of the Straits Settlements."

Marines from HMS Hermione served as an honour guard and pallbearers for the Mitchell's funeral.[5]

Awards and honours

Charles Mitchell was invested with Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1880,[6] Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1883[7] and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1895.[8]

Legacy

Mitchell Park Zoo in Durban, South Africa is named after him.[9]

References
  1. "FRIDAY, 16th JUNE. The Governorship". Straits Times Weekly Issue. 20 June 1893. p. 6.
  2. "BRITISH COLONY OF NATAL". Archived from the original on 30 July 2009.
  3. "The Swearing-in Ceremony". Daily Advertiser. 1 February 1894. p. 3.
  4. "Sudden Death of H. E. the Governor". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 7 December 1899. p. 3.
  5. North China Herald, 2 May 1900, p785
  6. "No. 24831". The London Gazette. 6 April 1880. p. 2431.
  7. "No. 25233". The London Gazette. 24 May 1883. p. 2731.
  8. "No. 26628". The London Gazette. 25 May 1895. pp. 3079–3080.
  9. "Mitchell Park Zoo". Archived from the original on 24 January 2010.


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