John Scott (colonial administrator)

Sir John Scott CMG KBE (24 April 1878 – 19 January 1946)[4][5][6][7] was a British colonial administrator. Scott joined the Ceylon Civil Service as a cadet in 1901[8] before retiring as Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlement in 1933.

Sir John Scott CMG KBE
16th Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements
In office 9 February 1929 – 23 May 1933[1]
Monarch	George V
Governor	Sir Hugh Clifford Sir Cecil Clementi
Preceded by	Sir Hayes Marriott George Hemmant (Acting)
Succeeded by	Sir Andrew Caldecott
Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements
In office 21 October 1929[2] – 5 February 1930
Preceded by	Sir Hugh Clifford
Succeeded by	Sir Cecil Clementi
Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory
In office January 1924[3] – 1928
Acting Governor of Tanganyika Territory
In office 1924 – 5 March 1925
Deputy Chief Secretary of Nigeria
In office February 1921[3] – 1923
Personal details
Born	24 April 1878[4]
Died	19 January 1946(1946-01-19) (aged 67)[4]
Spouse(s)	Mary Kathrine Adams[4][5] ​ ( m. 1905; died 1941)
Father	Canon John Scott[6]
Alma mater	King's College, Cambridge
Profession	Colonial Administrator

Education

John Scott was educated at Leeds Grammar School, Bath College and King's College, Cambridge where he took his B.A. degree.[6][7]

Career

Scott joined the Ceylon Civil Service in November 1901,[7][8] was appointed principal assistant colonial secretary in April 1917 [7] and have been in Ceylon till 1921[6] when he was appointed Deputy Chief Secretary of Nigeria.[6] Between 1924 and 1928, he was the Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory and acting Governor (1924 – 5 March 1925) before he was appointed as Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements in 1929.[6] During his tenure as Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements, he was sworn-in as Deputy-Governor for several occasions during the absence from the Settlement of H. E. Governor.[9][10] In October 1929, Scott was again sworn-in as Officer Administering the Government as Sir Hugh Clifford whose sudden decision to resign from the post of Governor of Straits Settlement. This is due to Lady Clifford's gravely illness and had to leave for England.[11] Scott resumed his post as Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements when Sir Cecil Clementi sworn-in as Governor of Straits Settlement on 5 February 1930. On 23 May 1933, Scott retired and hand over the post of Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements to Andrew Caldecott.[1]

Post-retirement

Scott and his wife resided at Manor House, Hartford, Huntingdon after Scott's retirement in 1933.[12]

Personal life

John Scott was born on 24 April 1878 and is the eldest son of Canon John Scott of Hull, Leeds.[5][6] He married Mary Kathrine Adams, daughter of Francis Adams of Greswold, Worcestershire in 1905 and Mary died in 1941.[4][5]

Awards and honours

John Scott was invested with Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1923[13] and Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1932.[3][14]

References

1. "Colonial Secretary". Malaya Tribune. 24 May 1933. p. 11.
2. "Acting Governor". Malaya Tribune. 21 October 1929. p. 9.
3. "Malaya in the New Year Honours". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 2 January 1932. p. 11.
4. "Scott, Sir John". ukwhoswho. 1 December 2007.
5. "New Colonial Secretary". Malaya Tribune. 12 February 1929. p. 8.
6. "Sir Hayes Marriott's Successor". The Straits Times. 3 July 1928. p. 8.
7. "Death of John Scott". The Straits Times. 23 January 1946. p. 3.
8. "Mr. J. Scott Arrives". The Straits Times. 12 February 1929. p. 9.
9. "Untitled". Malaya Tribune. 27 March 1929. p. 10.
10. "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (Weekly). 11 September 1929. p. 3.
11. "H. E. to leave Singapore on Friday". The Straits Times. 15 October 1929. p. 11.
12. "Mainly about people". The Straits Times. 2 November 1933. p. 13.
13. "No. 32830". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1923. pp. 3945–3946.
14. "No. 33785". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1931. p. 11.

Government offices
Preceded by Sir Hayes Marriott George Hemmant (Acting)	Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements 1929–1933	Succeeded by Sir Andrew Caldecott
Preceded by Sir Hugh Clifford	Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements 1929–1930	Succeeded by Sir Cecil Clementi
Preceded by –	Chief Secretary of Tanganyika Territory 1924–1928	Succeeded by –
Preceded by Sir Horace Byatt	Acting Governor of Tanganyika Territory 1924–1925	Succeeded by Donald Charles Cameron
Preceded by –	Deputy Chief Secretary of Nigeria 1921–1923	Succeeded by –