John Douglas (colonial administrator)

Sir John Douglas KCMG (5 December 1836 – 22 August 1885) was the Irish-born son of Lt Gen Sir James Dawes Douglas (1795–1862) and Marianne Bullock.[1]

Sir John Douglas KCMG
Acting Governor of British Ceylon
In office 10 July 1883 – 3 December 1883
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Preceded by	James Robert Longden
Succeeded by	Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
3rd Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements
In office 17 February 1876 – 17 August 1878
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Governor	Sir William Jervois William C. F. Robinson
Preceded by	Charles J. Irving (Acting)
Succeeded by	Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
16th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
In office 10 March 1870 – 16 June 1876
Preceded by	Robert John Callander
Succeeded by	C. A. D. Barclay
Personal details
Born	5 December 1836 Limerick, Ireland
Died	22 August 1885(1885-08-22) (aged 48) British Ceylon
Resting place	St Paul's Church, Kandy, British Ceylon
Spouse(s)	Alice Anne Claughton
Mother	Marianne Bullock
Father	Lt Gen Sir James Dawes Douglas

Career

Douglas was in the Civil Service of Mauritius 1859–1869 when he transferred to Ceylon where he was Auditor-General between 1869–1876. He became Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements in 17 February 1876[2] – 17 August 1878[3] before returning to Ceylon as Lieut.-Governor and Colonial Secretary, 1878–1880. He was appointed Acting Governor, 10 July 1883 – 3 December 1883.[4]

Honours

Douglas was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1883.[5]

Family

Douglas had married, in 1871, Alice Anne, daughter of Right Rev. Piers Calveley Claughton (d. 1884), Bishop of Colombo, Ceylon. They had five children.[6]

Death

Sir John Douglas died in Ceylon on 23 August 1885 and was buried at St Paul's Church, Kandy.[6]

References

1. Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain
2. "Friday, 18th February". The Straits Times. 19 February 1876. p. 4.
3. "Untitled". The Straits Times. 17 August 1878. p. 3.
4. Edward Walford. The county families of the United Kingdom
5. "Untitled". The Straits Times. 8 June 1883. p. 2.
6. Morning Post, 26 August 1885, p. 5.

Government offices
Preceded by Charles J. Irving (Acting)	3rd Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements 1876–1878	Succeeded by Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
Preceded by James Robert Longden	Governor of British Ceylon 1883	Succeeded by Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
Legal offices
Preceded by R. J. Callander	Accountant General and Controller of Revenue 1870–1876	Succeeded by C. A. D. Barclay