Harry Rawson

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Admiral Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson, KCB, RN (England, November 5, 1843, – November 3, 1910, London), is chiefly remembered now for having overseen the British 'Punitive Expedition' of 1897 that burned and looted the city of Benin, now in Nigeria. No shame was attached to the event at the time, and Admiral Rawson was appointed Governor of New South Wales, 27 May 1902 – 27 May 1909. The first naval officer since Captain Bligh to hold the post, he proved so popular that his term was extended.

Admiral Rawson was commander of British naval forces at the Cape of Good Hope at the time, and the Expedition was regarded in British circles largely as a stroke of disciplined and coordinated planning:

"In twenty-nine days a force of 1200 men, coming from three places between 3000 and 4500 m. from the Benin river, was landed, organized, equipped and provided with transport. Five days later the city of Benin was taken, and in twelve days more the men were re-embarked, and the ships coaled and ready for any further service." (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911).

The four male colleges of the University of Sydney now compete for the 'Rawson Cup.' This Intercollegiate Cup was donated in 1906 by Sir Harry Rawson when he was Governor of New South Wales. The colleges that compete for the cup are St John's College, St Andrew's College, Wesley College and St Paul's College.

One of his most notable descendants is Jonathan Rawson II who is his Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandson. A seventeen year old man residing in Billingham and fiercly proud of his ancestry, Jonathon, like his ancestor, is extremely patriotic and has pledged to name one of his future sons after him in his honour.

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Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl Beauchamp		 Governor of New South Wales
1902–1909		 Succeeded by
The Lord Chelmsford
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