Terence O'Brien (colonial administrator)

Major General Sir John Terence Nicholls O'Brien CMG (23 April 1830 – 25 February 1903[1]) was a surveyor, engineer and colonial governor, born in Manchester, England and died in London, England.

Major General

Sir Terence O'Brien
Acting Governor of British Ceylon
In office
1 December 1863 – 21 March 1865
MonarchQueen Victoria
Preceded byCharles Justin MacCarthy
Succeeded byHercules Robinson
22nd General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
In office
1860 – ?
Preceded byHenry Frederick Lockyer
Succeeded byStudholme John Hodson
Personal details
Born
John Terence Nicholls O'Brien

23 April 1830
Manchester, England
Died25 February 1903(1903-02-25) (aged 72)
London, England
Military service
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Branch/serviceBritish Army
RankMajor general
CommandsGeneral Officer Commanding, Ceylon

He studied at Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and then attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

O'Brien, a British Army officer, received a medal of honour for his service in the Indian Mutiny War. He was appointed acting Governor of British Ceylon in 1863 and held the office for two years, succeeding Charles Justin MacCarthy.[2]

In 1881 he was appointed governor of Heligoland, knighted in 1888 and became governor of Newfoundland in 1889.

O'Brien as governor of Newfoundland helped precipitate the 1894 bank crash by his many dispatches to London noting that Newfoundland politicians under Premier William Whiteway's Liberal Government were uniquely corrupt and incompetent. He resigned from office in 1895 and returned to London.

The Newfoundland community of Terenceville was so named in his honour. O'Brien's son, Sir Charles O'Brien, also became a colonial governor.

See also
  • Governors of Newfoundland
  • List of people of Newfoundland and Labrador

References
  1. "Sir J. Terence O'brien, K.C.M.G.". The Times (37014). 26 February 1903. p. 8.
  2. "Sri Lanka". Rulers.org. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
Government offices
Preceded by
Charles Justin MacCarthy		 acting
Governor of British Ceylon
1863–1865		 Succeeded by
Hercules Robinson
Preceded by
Sir Henry Berkeley Fitzhardinge Maxse		 Governor of Heligoland
1881–1888		 Succeeded by
Arthur Cecil Stuart Barkly
Preceded by
Sir Henry Arthur Blake		 Colonial Governor of Newfoundland
1889–1895		 Succeeded by
Sir Herbert Harley Murray
Military offices
Preceded by
Henry Frederick Lockyer		 General Officer Commanding, Ceylon
1860–?		 Succeeded by
Studholme John Hodson



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