George Thomas Michael O'Brien
Sir George Thomas Michael O'Brien KCMG (Chinese: 柯布連) (5 November 1844 – 12 April 1906) was a British colonial official who served as Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1892 to 1895, and as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific from 1897 to June 1901.
Sir George Thomas Michael O'Brien KCMG | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 6th Governor of Fiji | |
| In office March 1897 – 1901 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Sir John Thurston |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Allardyce (acting) |
| 5th High Commissioner for the Western Pacific | |
| In office March 1897 – 1901 | |
| Preceded by | Sir John Thurston |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Allardyce (acting) |
| 9th Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong | |
| In office 1892–1895 | |
| Preceded by | Francis Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Stewart Lockhart |
| 19th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue | |
| In office 18 October 1890 – 31 July 1891 | |
| Preceded by | W. H. Ravenscroft |
| Succeeded by | James Alexander Swettenham |
| Treasurer of Ceylon | |
| In office 6 August 1886 – 1890 | |
| Preceded by | William Dumaresq Wright |
| Succeeded by | Frederick Richard Saunders |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 November 1844 |
| Died | 12 April 1906 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator |
Career
O'Brien was the 19th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue of British Ceylon. He was appointed on 18 October 1890, succeeding W. H. Ravenscroft, and held the office until 31 July 1891. He was succeeded by J. A. Swettenham.[1] He also served as Treasurer of Ceylon from 1886 to 1890.
He became Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1892, a position he held until 1895. In 1897, he succeeded John Thurston as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. He was recalled in June 1901 following a conflict with the New Zealand Government led by Richard Seddon regarding a proposed Federation of Fiji and New Zealand.[2]
He died in 1906.[3]
O'Brien Road (柯布連道) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong was named after him.[4]
References
- "Former Auditor Generals". auditorgeneral.gov.lk. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- Angus Ross, New Zealand Aspirations in the Pacific in the Nineteenth Century, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1964, p. 277.
- The Brisbane Courier, Page5, 19 April 1906
- Yanne, Andrew; Heller, Gillis (2009). Signs of a Colonial Era. Hong Kong University Press. p. 83. ISBN 9789622099449.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. H. Ravenscroft |
Accountant General and Controller of Revenue 1890–1891 |
Succeeded by J. A. Swettenham |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by William Dumaresq Wright |
Treasurer of Ceylon 1886–1890 |
Succeeded by Frederick Richard Saunders |
| Preceded by Francis Fleming |
Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong 1892-1895 |
Succeeded by Sir James Stewart Lockhart |
| Preceded by Sir John Bates Thurston |
High Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1897–1901 |
Succeeded by William Lamond Allardyce, acting |
| Governor of Fiji 1897–1901 | ||
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