John Gardiner Austin

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John Gardiner Austin, CMG (Chinese: 柯士甸) was a British colonial administrator. He was Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras 1864–1867, and Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1868 to 1879, acting as Administrator (acting Governor) of the colony in 1877.

Background and early life

Career

Austin was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of British Honduras in February 1864,[1] and served for two years until 1867.

In 1868 he was appointed Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong,[2] serving as such until 1879. He was also Auditor General of the colony from 1870 to 1879,[3] and Administrator (acting Governor) from March to April 1877. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in March 1876, for his services in Hong Kong.[4]

By 1901 Austin had moved to Barbados, where he was in September 1901 appointed a Member of the Legislative council.[5]

Family

Austin was the father of :

  • Mehetabel Percy Austin (29 Feb 1840, died after 1940), who married in 1862 Axel Dickson (1826-1899), a member of the Swedish parliament of Scottish origin. She was one of few people born on a leap day to celebrate a centennial.[6]

Legacy

Mount Austin on Hong Kong Island, Austin Road and Austin Avenue in Kowloon were named after him. The Austin Station of the MTR was so-named due to its proximity to Austin Road West, and the naming may be more influenced by geographical convenience rather than any direct link to Austin himself.

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22814. p. 483. 2 February 1864.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 23353. p. 772. 18 February 1868. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
  3. ↑ Audit Commission: Directors of Audit to date
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24305. p. 1899. 14 March 1876.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27357. p. 6165. 20 September 1901.
  6. ↑ "Leap year centenarian" The Times (London). Thursday, 29 February 1940. (48552), p. 11.
Government offices
Preceded by
William Thomas Mercer		 Colonial Secretary of Hongkong
1868-1879 		Succeeded by
William Henry Marsh
Preceded by
Sir Arthur Edward Kennedy		 Administrator of Hong Kong
March 1877-April 1877 		Succeeded by
Sir John Pope Hennessy


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