William Des Vœux

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Sir George William Des Vœux, GCMG (Chinese Translated Name 德輔) (22 September 1834 - 15 December 1909) was a British colonial governor who served as Governor of Fiji (1880-1885), Newfoundland and Labrador (1886-1887), and Hong Kong (1887-1891).

Contents 1 Early life 2 Colonial services 3 Governor of Hong Kong 4 Post-Governorship 5 Personal life 6 Honours 7 Places named after him 8 See also 9 External links

[edit] Early life

Des Vœux was born on 22 September, 1834 in Baden, Germany. He was of French descent - his ancestor Marin de Bacquencourt Des Vœux settled in Portarlington, Ireland in the early 1700s, having come from Picardy in northern France. Des Vœux attended a public school in London before starting his studies at Charterhouse School and Balliol College, Oxford, but left without a degree in 1856 and moved to Canada, where he finished his B.A. at the University of Toronto and became a barrister in Upper Canada in 1861.

[edit] Colonial services

Des Vœux became stipendiary magistrate in British Guiana from 1863 to 1869, where he championed for native causes. He reorganized and codified old French system of law when he was the Administrator and Colonial Secretary of St. Lucia between 1869 and 1880. Afterwards, Des Vœux was appointed Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner Western Pacific from 1880 to 1885. Then, he was appointed Governor of Newfoundland from 1886-1887

[edit] Governor of Hong Kong

In 1887, Des Vœux was appointed as the tenth Governor of Hong Kong, a position he held until 1891. This would be the last post Des Vœux would hold in the Colonial Services. During his tenure, Hongkong Electric Holdings was established, providing electricity supplies for Hong Kong Island. Also, the Peak Tram began operation during this time, providing relatively affortable transportation for people living on The Peak.

[edit] Post-Governorship

After Des Vœux's time as Governor of Hong Kong ended, he entered retirement. He was awarded a GCMG in 1893. In 1903, he published his memoirs called My colonial service in British Guiana, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Fiji, Australia, Newfoundland and Hong Kong, with interludes.

[edit] Personal life

Des Vœux married Marion Denison Pender (1856 - 1955), daughter of John Pender, in 1875. They had five sons and three daughters, with three sons deceased. Des Vœux died in London on 15 December, 1909.

[edit] Honours

• C.M.G., 1877
• K.C.M.G., 1883
• G.C.M.G., 1893

[edit] Places named after him

Des Voeux Road Central, located in Central District, and Des Voeux Road West, located in the Western District in Hong Kong Island were both named after him.

[edit] See also

• History of Hong Kong

[edit] External links

• Biography at Government House The Governorship of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online

Political offices
Preceded by Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon	Governor of Fiji 1880-1885	Succeeded by Sir Charles Bullen Hugh Mitchell
Preceded by Sir John Hawley Glover	Governor of Newfoundland 1886-1887	Succeeded by Sir Henry Arthur Blake
Preceded by Major-General N.G. Cameron, Acting Administrator	Governor of Hong Kong 1887-1891	Succeeded by Major-General Digby Barker, Acting Administrator