George W. Macfarlane

George Walter Hunter Macfarlane (March 1, 1849 – February 20, 1921) was a British businessman, courtier and politician of the Kingdom of Hawaii. He served Colonel of the military staff of King Kalākaua, traveling with the monarch on his 1881 world tour. He also served as his final chamberlain of king and was at his deathbed in 1891.

George W. Macfarlane
Chamberlain to the Royal Household
In office
1888–1891
MonarchKalākaua
Personal details
BornMarch 1, 1849
Honolulu, Hawaii
DiedFebruary 20, 1921
New York City
Resting placeOahu Cemetery
SpouseFlorence Ballinger
OccupationPolitician, businessman
Military service
AllegianceKingdom of Hawaii
Branch/serviceGovernor of Oahu's Staff
King's Staff
RankColonel; Major
Kalākaua with Colonel Macfarlane and Colonel Robert Hoapili Baker aboard the USS Charleston en route to San Francisco, California

Early life

He was born March 1, 1849, in Honolulu, Hawaii.[1] His parents were Henry Richard Macfarlane (died 1860) and Eliza Macfarlane (1828–1904). His father was Scottish, of the Highland Clan MacFarlane, while his mother was of English descent from Devonshire. His parents married in Auckland and were early settlers of Hawaii arriving to the islands in 1846 via New Zealand. His brothers were: Henry R. Macfarlane, Edward C. Macfarlane, who served on as Queen Liliuokalani's cabinet minister, Frederick W. Macfarlane and Clarence W. Macfarlane. A younger sister Helen Blanche Macfarlane married William H. Cornwell. All were born in the island with the exception of Henry who was born at sea.[2][3][4] He attended Punahou School.[5]

Political career

During the reign of Kalākaua, George Macfarlane was made a Major on the military staff of the Governor of Oahu, John Owen Dominis, and later was elevated to the rank of colonel on the king's military staff. He would also serve as a member of the House of Nobles in the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii, participating in the session of 1886.[6][7] He also served on the Privy Council of State, the advisory council of the monarch.[8]

In 1881, he accompanied Kalākaua on his tour around the world, serving as his aide-de-camp. He didn't travel the entire trip around world, only accompanying the king and his suite, including the then-incumbent Chamberlain Charles Hastings Judd and cabinet minister William Nevins Armstrong, on the first leg of the journey from Honolulu to San Francisco and later rejoining them in Europe and the United States.[9] In 1888, he was appointed as Chamberlain of the Royal Household.[10] With Robert Hoapili Baker, he accompanied the king on his final visit to the United States aboard the USS Charleston, in November 1890. While visiting Southern California, the king drank excessively and fell ill in January 1891 and had to be returned to San Francisco. Hoapili and Macfarlane were at his deathbed at San Francisco's Palace Hotel; he sat at the head of the bed clasping the king's right hand. Kalākaua died on January 20, 1891[11][12] The new queen Liliuokalani removed Macfarlane as Chamberlain and appointed James William Robertson to the post.[13][14]

Later life

Besides politics, he was also involved in business investing in sugarcane plantation and was an owner of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, in downtown Honolulu, Park Beach Hotel, one of the first hotel at Waikiki, and the Seaside Hotel (now the site of the current Royal Hawaiian Hotel).[5][15] Macfarlane died at his home, 610 West 150th Street, in New York City, on February 20, 1921, of apoplexy, at the age of 71. He was buried at Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.[5][16]

References
  1. "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795–1949," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WBC-M4N : March 20, 2015), George Walter Hunter Macfarland, February 20, 1921; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,027,218.
  2. Nellist, George F., ed. (1925). "Clarence William Macfarlane, Importer". The Story of Hawaii and Its Builders. Honolulu: Honolulu Star Bulletin.
  3. "Death of E. C. Macfarlane On His Wedding Tour". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu. March 4, 1902. pp. 1, 5.; "Dying On His Wedding Trip". The Maui News. Wailuku. March 1, 1902. p. 3.
  4. "Death of Mrs. Eliza Macfarlane". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. Honolulu. August 12, 1904. p. 1.
  5. "Col. George W. Macfarlane". The Maui News. Wailuku. February 25, 1921. p. 3.; "Col. G. W. Macfarlane, Financier, Dies At 72 – Once Prominent in Hawaiian Public Life". The New York Times. February 21, 1921. p. 7.; "Col. George W. Macfarlane" (PDF). The New York Times. February 21, 1921. p. 11.; "G. W. MacFarlane Known in S. F. – Death in New York Recells His Activities". San Francisco Chronicle. February 22, 1921. p. 15.; "Death Of Macfarlane Removes One Of Last Of Leaders Of Monarchy". The Honolulu Advertiser. February 22, 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.; "W. C. Macfarlane, One Time Chamberlain To Kalakaua, Dies In N. Y.". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. February 21, 1921. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Macfarlane, George W. office record" (PDF). state archives digital collections. state of Hawaii. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  7. Hawaii & Lydecker 1918, p. 178.
  8. Hawaii. Minutes of the Privy Council, 1881–1892. Archived from the original on May 31, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. Armstrong 1904, pp. 9–10, 261, 266.
  10. Tilton 1927, p. 98.
  11. "KALAKAUA DEAD – Last Hours of the Hawaiian Monarch – Solemn Scenes at the Royal Bedside – The Succession and the Political Situation – Sketches of the Dead Sovereign and of the Heirs to the Throne". Ka Nupepa Elele. Vol. XII, no. 25. Honolulu. January 31, 1891. p. 2.
  12. Kuykendall 1967, pp. 474–474.
  13. Kuykendall 1967, p. 478.
  14. Liliuokalani 1898, p. 219.
  15. Young, Peter T. (March 27, 2015). "The Macfarlanes". Image of Old Hawaiʻi. Hoʻokuleana LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  16. Grave Marker of Col. George W. Macfarlane. Honolulu, Hawaii: Oahu Cemetery.

Bibliography
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George W. Macfarlane.
  • Young, Peter T. (March 27, 2015). "The Macfarlanes". Image of Old Hawaiʻi. Hoʻokuleana LLC. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
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