Edward Merewether

Sir Edward Marsh Merewether, KCMG, KCVO (9 September 1858 – 28 December 1938) was a British colonial administrator.

Funerary monument, Brompton Cemetery, London
For the pioneer of asbestosis, see Edward Merewether (physician).

Sir Edward Marsh Merewether
KCMG, KCVO
Governor of the Leeward Islands
In office
1916–1921
Preceded bySir Henry Hesketh Bell
Succeeded byEustace Fiennes
Governor of Sierra Leone
In office
8 March 1911 – January 1916
MonarchGeorge V
Preceded bySir Leslie Probyn
Succeeded bySir Richard James Wilkinson
Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary of Malta
In office
1902–1911
MonarchsEdward VII
George V
Preceded bySir Gerald Strickland
(as Chief Secretary)
Succeeded byJohn Clauson
(as Chief Secretary)
Personal details
Born(1858-09-09)9 September 1858
Meriden, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom
Died28 December 1938(1938-12-28) (aged 80)
Kensington, London, England
SpouseHonoria Clementina Mary Braddell
RelationsThomas Braddell (Father-in-law)
Parents
RelativesHenry Alworth Merewether (grandfather),
Edward Christopher Merewether (uncle)
Alma materHarrow School

Early life and background

Merewether was born in Meriden, Warwickshire, England on 9 September 1858, the second son of British Indian Army officer Major General Sir William Merewether (1825–1880) and Harriett Dale. His grandfather was the Serjeant-at-law and Town Clerk of London, Henry Alworth Merewether (1780–1864). His uncle, Edward Christopher Merewether (1820–1893), was a prominent civil servant and businessman in the Colony of New South Wales and for whom the suburb of Merewether was named.[1] Merewether was educated at Harrow School.

Colonial career

Straits Settlements

After passing the civil service exam, Merewether was accepted as a cadet in the Straits Settlements Civil Service (SSCC) in 1880 and rose to become Superintendent of the Census in 1891 and Inspector of Prisons in 1893. As Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Councils from 1897, he acted on two occasions as resident Councillor and Colonial Treasurer in Malacca. In 1901 he was appointed as Resident Minister to the Sultan of Selangor, Alauddin Sulaiman Shah. For his service in the colony he was made a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) in the November 1902 Birthday Honours list.[2][3]

In 1883 he married Honoria Clementina Mary Braddell, the daughter of the first Attorney-General of Singapore, Sir Thomas Braddell.[4]

Malta

Merewether was appointed Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary to the Government of Malta in May 1902,[5] serving until 1911.[6] He arrived in Malta on 21 August 1902 to take up the position.[7] On the occasion of King Edward VII's visit to the island the following year, he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) on 21 April 1903.[8] When the King visited Malta again in April 1907, Merewether was promoted to Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).[9]

Sierra Leone

In March 1911, Merewether was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sierra Leone.[10] One of his Private Secretaries was the colonial administrator Paul Shuffrey.[11] In the 1916 New Year Honours, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG).[12] Merewether's term expired in early 1916 and was due to return to England on board the British and African Steamer, SS Appam, but was taken prisoner when the ship was captured by the Imperial German Navy raider SMS Möwe on 15 January 1916. He and his wife were released when the Appam arrived under control of its German prize crew in Norfolk, Virginia, in early February.[13][14]

Later life

Merewether was lastly appointed as Governor of the Leeward Islands, serving from 1916 to 1921.[15] In September 1920, he entertained Edward, Prince of Wales at Government House, Antigua on the occasion of his visit to the West Indies.[16]

He died in Kensington, London, on 28 December 1938.

Honours
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)NY 1916
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)KB 1902
Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)RV 1907
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)RV 1903
King George V Coronation Medal1911

References
  1. C. E. Smith, 'Merewether, Edward Christopher (1820–1893)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/merewether-edward-christopher-4188/text6735, published first in hardcopy 1974. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  2. "Birthday Honours". The Times. No. 36921. London. 10 November 1902. p. 10.
  3. "No. 27493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1902. pp. 7161–7163.
  4. "LINER MISSING". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 357. New South Wales, Australia. 31 January 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  5. "Appointments". The Times. No. 36780. London. 29 May 1902. p. 8.
  6. "No. 27498". The London Gazette. 25 November 1902. p. 7936.
  7. "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36853. London. 22 August 1902. p. 8.
  8. "No. 27560". The London Gazette. 2 June 1903. p. 3525.
  9. "No. 28015". The London Gazette. 23 April 1907. p. 2731.
  10. "No. 28474". The London Gazette. 10 March 1911. p. 2053.
  11. "Shuffrey. Paul, (1889–22 March 1955), Owner and Editor of the Church Quarterly Review". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U242928. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1.
  12. "No. 29423". The London Gazette. 31 December 1915. p. 82.
  13. "WAR CRUISERS AND COMMERCE DESTROYERS". Cairns Post. No. 11, 138. Queensland, Australia. 23 October 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  14. "GERMAN PRIZE". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 24, 361. New South Wales, Australia. 4 February 1916. p. 9. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  15. "No. 12910". The Edinburgh Gazette. 29 February 1916. p. 344.
  16. "PRINCE OF WALES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 25, 815. New South Wales, Australia. 30 September 1920. p. 9. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
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