Charles Elliot
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Charles Elliot, also Charles Elliott (義律, b. 1801 - 9th September, 1875) was a British naval officer, diplomat, colonial administrator and drug-trafficker - a combination considered legitimate at the time.
Born in England, he joined the British Royal Navy in 1816. He participated in the Battle of Algiers, served in India, Africa and the West Indies and became an Admiral.
He was appointed Chief Superintendent of Trade and British Minister to China in 1835 and was based in Macao, helping British merchants to smuggle opium to Canton. He was involved in the First Opium War and signed the Convention of Chuenpeh in 1841, in which Qing ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain and was forced to tolerate the sale of Opium which caused large-scale problems of addiction among its population. He became the first British administrator of Hong Kong, holding office from January to August 1841.
From 1842 to 1845 he was Chargé d'affaires in Texas. From 1847 to 1852 he was the Governor of Bermuda, from 1853 to 1856 the Governor of Trinidad, and from 1863 to 1869 the Governor of Saint Helena.
In 1855, as Commodore, he also had command of a flottila made up of HMS Hornet, HMS Sybille and HMS Bittern. This flotilla, on 25 April 1855 discovered an island in the Sea of Japan, at lat 37 ° 17 ' 23 " N, long 1331 ° 54 ' 23 " E. It was about a mile in extent, running in a NW by W and SE by E direction and formed together by a reef of rocks.
[edit] Political Summary
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by New Creation |
Administrator of Hong Kong 1841 - 1841 |
Succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger |
| Preceded by W. N. Hutchinson |
Governor of Bermuda 1846 - 1852 |
Succeeded by W. Hassell Eden, acting |
| Preceded by Arthur W. Byles, acting |
Governor of Bermuda 1853 - 1854 |
Succeeded by Freeman Murray |
| Preceded by George Francis Robert Harris |
Governor of Trinidad 1854 - 1856 |
Succeeded by Robert William Keate |
| Preceded by Sir Edward Hay Drummond Hay |
Governor of Saint Helena 1863 - 1869 |
Succeeded by Vice Admiral Charles George Edward Patey |
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Categories: Governors of Hong Kong | History of Saint Helena | Bermuda | Governors of Trinidad and Tobago | History of Macau | Royal Navy admirals | British drug traffickers | 1801 births | 1875 deaths | British Atlantic territories stubs | United Kingdom military personnel stubs | Hong Kong people stubs
