Agent General
Encyclopedia
An Agent-General was the representative in the United Kingdom
of the government of a British colony in Nigeria
, Canada
, South Africa
, Australia
or New Zealand
and subsequently, of a Nigerian Region
, Canadian Province or an Australian State
in the United Kingdom. Nigeria, Australia and Canada's federal governments were represented by High Commissions.
Following a military coup in Nigeria in 1966, the federal system was abolished, and the posts of the Agent-General of Nigerian Regions in London were subsumed in the Nigerian High Commission.
By the 1990s, some Australian state governments regarded the office of their Agent-General in London
as a costly anachronism, even for promoting tourism and investment, and have since been closed and subsumed into the Australian High Commission. The majority of Australian States continue to have Agents General in London, but operate from Australia House
rather than maintain separate premises.
Many Canadian provinces similarly are no longer represented by an Agent-General, although Quebec
has a Government Office (Délégation Générale du Québec à Londres) in London.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
of the government of a British colony in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
or New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and subsequently, of a Nigerian Region
States of Nigeria
Nigeria is currently divided into 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory. The states are further divided into 774 Local Government Areas....
, Canadian Province or an Australian State
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
in the United Kingdom. Nigeria, Australia and Canada's federal governments were represented by High Commissions.
Following a military coup in Nigeria in 1966, the federal system was abolished, and the posts of the Agent-General of Nigerian Regions in London were subsumed in the Nigerian High Commission.
By the 1990s, some Australian state governments regarded the office of their Agent-General in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as a costly anachronism, even for promoting tourism and investment, and have since been closed and subsumed into the Australian High Commission. The majority of Australian States continue to have Agents General in London, but operate from Australia House
Australia House
The High Commission of Australia in London is housed in Australia House, a building that also accommodates other Australian federal and state government agencies, including the Menzies Centre for Australian Studies, part of King's College London....
rather than maintain separate premises.
Many Canadian provinces similarly are no longer represented by an Agent-General, although Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
has a Government Office (Délégation Générale du Québec à Londres) in London.
List of Agents-General for New South Wales
The first Agent-General for NSW was appointed on 1 May 1787 and it existed until it was abolished in 1992.- William Colburn Mayne 1864–1871
- Charles CowperCharles CowperSir Charles Cowper, KCMG was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five different occasions from 1856 to 1870....
1871–1875 - William Forster 1876–1879
- Alexander StuartAlexander Stuart (Australian politician)Sir Alexander Stuart KCMG was Premier of New South Wales from 5 January 1883 to 7 October 1885.-Early years:Stuart was born at Edinburgh, the son of Alexander Stuart and his wife Mary, née McKnight. Stuart was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and attended the University of Edinburgh, but did not...
1879–1890 - Sir Daniel Cooper c.1880s
- Sir Saul SamuelSaul SamuelSir Saul Samuel CMG, KCMG, CB was an Australian colonial merchant, member of parliament, pastoralist, and prominent Jew...
1880–1897 - Sir Julian SalomonsJulian SalomonsThe Honourable Sir Julian Emanuel Salomons was a barrister, royal commissioner, solicitor-general, chief justice and member of parliament. He was the only chief justice in New South Wales to be appointed and resign before he was ever sworn into office...
1899–1900 - Sir Timothy Augustine CoghlanTimothy Augustine CoghlanSir Timothy Augustine Coghlan KCMG was an Australian statistician, holding the post of New South Wales government statistician for 19 years.-Early life:...
1905–1915, 1916–17, 1920–1925 - Bernhard Wise 1915–1916
- Sir Charles WadeCharles WadeSir Charles Gregory Wade KCMG was Premier of New South Wales 2 October 1907 – 21 October 1910. According to Percival Serle, "Wade was a public-spirited man of high character...
1917–1919 - David HallDavid Hall (Australian politician)David Robert Hall was an Australian politician.Hall was born in Harrietville, Victoria, and studied law at the University of Sydney before becoming a barrister in 1903...
1920 - Sir Arthur CocksArthur Cocks (Australian politician)Sir Arthur Alfred Clement Cocks KBE was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early life:...
1925 - The Viscount ChelmsfordFrederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount ChelmsfordFrederic John Napier Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor of Queensland , Governor of New South Wales from 1909 to 1913, and Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921, where he was responsible for the creation of the Montagu-Chelmsford...
1926–1927 - Sir George FullerGeorge Fuller (Australian politician)Sir George Warburton Fuller KCMG was Premier of New South Wales, Australia on two occasions during the 1920s. His first term of office lasted less than one day ; his second lasted from 13 April 1922 to 17 June 1925.-Early life:Fuller was born in Kiama, New South Wales and was educated at Kiama...
1928–1931 - Albert Charles Willis 1931–1932
- Albert Edward Heath 1937–1938
- Clifford Henderson Hay 1938–1939
- Jack TullyJack TullyJohn Moran "Jack" Tully was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1932 and from 1935 to 1946....
1946-1954 - Abe LandaAbe LandaThe Hon. Abram Landa was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1930 until 1932 and from 1941 until 1965. He was variously a member of the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Labor Party...
1965-1970 - Sir Davis HughesDavis HughesSir Davis Hughes was an Australian politician and bureaucrat.-Early life:Hughes was born in Launceston, Tasmania and was educated at Launceston High School and the University of Tasmania, although he did not graduate. He married Joan Johnson in 1940 and they had issue one son and two daughters...
1972-1975 - Sir Ken McCawKen McCawSir Kenneth Malcolm McCaw QC , an Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Lane Cove for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1947 until his retirement from political office in 1975...
1975-1980 - Jack RenshawJack RenshawJohn Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
1980-1983 - Kevin Stewart 1986-1988
- Neil PickardNeil PickardNeil Edward William Pickard was a New South Wales politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Eric Willis and Nick Greiner...
1991-1992
List of Agents-General for Queensland
- John Douglas 1869–1870
- Thomas Archer (1870–1872)?, 1881-1884, 1888-1890
- Richard DaintreeRichard DaintreeRichard Daintree was a pioneering Australian geologist and photographer. In particular, Daintree was the first Government geologist for North Queensland discovering gold fields and coal seams for future exploitation...
1872–1876 - Arthur MacalisterArthur MacalisterArthur Macalister, CMG was three times Premier of Queensland, Australia.-Early life:Macalister was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of John Macalister, a cabinet maker, and his wife Mary, née Scoullar. Macalister was educated in Glasgow and emigrated to Australia with his wife Elizabeth Wallace née...
1876–1881 - James Francis GarrickJames Francis GarrickSir James Francis Garrick CMG KCMG QC , was a politician and agent-general from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In his later years, he lived in London.-Early years:...
1884–1888, 1890–1895 - William Hemmant 1885 (acting)
- Sir Henry Wylie NormanHenry Wylie NormanField Marshal Sir Henry Wylie Norman GCB, GCMG, CIE , Field Marshal and colonial Governor.-Early life:He was born 2 December 1826, only son of James Norman, merchant, and his wife Charlotte, née Wylie....
1896
- Hon Sir Horace Tozer 1898–1909
- Thomas Bilbe Robinson 1910–1919
- John McEwan Hunter 1919–1922
- John Arthur Fihelly 1922–1924
- John Saunders Huxham 1924–1929
- Edward Henry Macartney 1929–1931
- Leonard Henry Pike 1931-51
- Sir David Muir 1951-64
- William Alan Thompson Summerville 1964–1970
- Hon Sir Peter Roylance Delamothe 1971–1973
- N C Sweeney (Acting) 1973 - 1974
- Hon Sir Wallace Rae 1974 -1980
- G.W Swan (Acting) August 1980 - March 1981
- John H Andrews April 1981 - September 1984
- John F S Brown September 1984 - March 1988
- Hon D T McVeigh April 1988 - January 1991
- Ray T Anderson June 1991 - September 1995
- Dermot A McManus February 1996 - October 2000
- Ray Kelly (Acting) October 2000 - April 2001
- John Dawson April 2001 - September 2007
- Ross Buchanan (Acting) October 2007 - April 2008
- Andrew Hugh Craig April 2008 -
List of Agents-General for South Australia
- Francis DuttonFrancis DuttonFrancis Stacker Dutton CMG was the seventh Premier of South Australia, serving twice, firstly in 1863 and again in 1865....
1865–1877 - Arthur BlythArthur BlythSir Arthur Blyth KCMG was premier of South Australia three times; 1864–1865, 1871–1872 and 1873-1875....
1877–1891 - John Cox BrayJohn Cox BraySir John Cox Bray KCMG JP was a prominent South Australian politician and the first native-born Premier of South Australia .-Early life:...
1892–1894 - Thomas Playford IIThomas Playford IIThomas Playford served as Premier of South Australia from 11 June 1887 to 26 June 1889 and 8 August 1890 to 20 June 1892, as well as serving as the Australian Federal Minister for Defence from 1905 to 1907....
1894–1898 - Sir John CockburnJohn Cockburn (Australian politician)Sir John Alexander Cockburn, KCMG was Premier of South Australia from 27 June 1889 until 18 August 1890.Cockburn was born in Corsbie, Berwickshire, Scotland in 1850. His father was Thomas Cockburn. He was educated at Highgate School, and King's College London, he obtained the degree of M.D....
1898–1901 - Henry Grainger 1901–1905
- John JenkinsJohn Jenkins (Australian politician)John Greeley Jenkins was an American-Australian politician and Premier of South Australia.Jenkins was the fourth son of Evan Jenkins and Mary Davis of South Wales, was born in Pennsylvania. He was educated at the Wyoming Seminary, Pa., and after working on his father's farm, became in 1872 a...
1905–1908 - Andrew KirkpatrickAndrew Kirkpatrick (Australian politician)The Hon Andrew Alexander Kirkpatrick , Australian politician, was leader of the South Australian division of the Australian Labor Party from 1917 to 1918, when the party split nationally over Billy Hughes' stance on conscription.Kirkpatrick also served as Chief Secretary of South Australia,...
1909–1914 - Sir Frederick Young 1915–1918
- Sir Edward LucasEdward Lucas (Australian politician)Sir Edward Lucas was an Australian politician. He was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1900 to 1918, when he resigned to become Agent-General for South Australia....
1918–1925 - John PriceJohn Price (South Australian politician)John Lloyd Price was an Australian politician. Born in Liverpool, South Australia, the son of future South Australian Premier Thomas Price, he was educated at public schools before entering the state public service in the railways. He was President of the South Australian Trades and Labour Council...
1925–1928 - Sir Henry BarwellHenry BarwellSir Henry Newman Barwell KCMG was the 28th Premier of South Australia.Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Barwell was educated at St Peter's College and Adelaide University, graduating in law...
1928–1933 - Lionel HillLionel HillLionel Laughton Hill was the thirtieth Premier of South Australia.Born in Adelaide, South Australia but raised on a farm near Maitland, Hill left school aged 12 to work on the South Australian government railways, where he first became involved in the labour movement...
1933–1934 - Sir Charles McCann 1934–1951
- Alfred Greenham (in 1959?)
- Malcolm Pearce 1961–1966
- Geoff Walls 1985?–1998
- Maurice de Rohan 1998–2006
- William Mortimer Muirhead 2007–present http://www.premcab.sa.gov.au/dpc/department_agent.html
List of Agents-General for Tasmania
- Hon Adye DouglasAdye DouglasSir Adye Douglas was an Australian lawyer and politician, and first class cricket player, who played one match for Tasmania. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 August 1884 to 8 March 1886....
(later Sir, Kt) 1886–1887 - Sir Arthur Blyth (acting) 1887–1888
- James A Youl CMG (later Sir, KCMG) (acting) 1888
- Hon Edward BraddonEdward BraddonSir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon, KCMG , Australian politician, was the Premier of Tasmania from 1894 to 1899, and was a Member of the First Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives...
(later Right Hon Sir, PC KCMG) 1888–1893 - Sir Robert Herbert 1893–1896
- Sir Andrew Clarke (acting) 1896
- Sir Westby Percival 1896–1898
- Sir Andrew Clarke (acting) 1898–1899
- Hon Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG 1899–1901
- Sir Andrew Clarke (acting) 1901
- Hon Alfred DobsonAlfred DobsonAlfred Thomas Carrick Dobson was an English international footballer, who played as a right back.-Career:Born in Basford, Dobson played for Notts County, and earned four caps for England between 1882 and 1884....
, CMG 1901–1908 - Sir John McCall, KCMG, Kt 1909–1919
- Alfred Henry Ashbolt (later Sir, Kt) 1919–1924
- Lieut-Colonel R Eccles Snowden (later Sir, Kt) 1924–1930
- Darcy W Addison, CMG, ISO, MVO 1930–1931
- Herbert W Ely, ISO (acting) 1931–1937
- Hon Sir Claude Ernest Weymouth James, Kt 1937–1950
- Sir Eric E von Bibra, Kt, OBE 1950–1958
- Hon Sir Alfred J White, Kt 1959–1971
- Royce R Neville 1971–1978
- Hon William A Neilson, AC 1978–1981
List of Agents-General for Victoria
- Hugh Culling Eardley Childers 1857–1858
- George Frederic VerdonGeorge Frederic VerdonSir George Frederic Verdon was an English Australian politician and public figure.Verdon was a son of the Rev. Edward Verdon, he was born at Bury, Lancaster, England. He was educated at Rossall School, and when 17 years of age emigrated to Melbourne...
1868 - 1872 - Hugh Culling Eardley Childers 1872 - 1873
- James McColloch 1873
- Archibald Michie 1873–1879
- Charles PasleyCharles PasleyGeneral Sir Charles William Pasley KCB was a British soldier and military engineer who wrote the defining text on the role of the post-American revolution British Empire: An Essay on the Military Policy and Institutions of the British Empire, published in 1810. This text changed how Britons...
1880–1882 - Robert Murray Smith 1882–1886
- Graham BerryGraham BerrySir Graham Berry KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most Radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined efforts to break the power of the Victorian Legislative Council, the stronghold of the...
1886–1891 - James MunroJames Munro (Australian politician)James Munro , Australian colonial politician, was the 15th Premier of Victoria.-Early life:James Munro was born in Armadale, Sutherland, Scotland, to Donald Munro and his wife, Georgina. James Munro's grandparents were an Alexander Munro of the family of Foulis, Ross-shire and Barbara Mackay, a...
1892 - 1893 - Duncan GilliesDuncan GilliesDuncan Gillies , Australian colonial politician, was the 14th Premier of Victoria.Gillies was born at Overnewton near Glasgow, Scotland, where his father had a market garden. He was sent to the high school until he was about 14, when he entered an office in Glasgow...
1893–1897 - Andrew ClarkeAndrew Clarke (administrator)Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Clarke, GCMG, CB, CIE was a British soldier and governor as well as a politician in Australia.-Background and education:...
1897–1902 (and for Tasmania) - John William Taverner 1903–1913
- Peter McBride 1913–1922
- John McWhae 1922–1924
- George Fairbairn 1924–1927
- Walter Leitch 1929–1933
- Richard LintonRichard LintonRichard Linton, ASMA, is an internationally renowned Australian artist. His paintings are primarily of maritime subjects.-Early life:...
1933–1936 - Murray William James BourchierMurray William James BourchierBrigadier Sir Murray William James Bourchier CMG DSO VD MLA was an Australian soldier and former Deputy Premier of Victoria from April 1935 until June 1936.-Early life:...
1936–1937 - Albert Louis Bussau 1938–1944
- Norman Angus Martin 1945–1950
- John Henry Lienhop 1950–1956
- William Watt Leggatt 1956– 1964
- Sir Horace Petty 1964-1969
- Kenneth Andrew Finnin 1985 - 1988
- Peter Hansen 2000-2004
- David Buckingham 2004-2009
- Sally CappSally CappSally Capp is an Australian diplomat who represents Victoria in London as their Agent-General. Capp is the former CEO of the Committee For Melbourne and a former director of Collingwood Football Club.-References:...
2009 - present
List of Agents-General for Western Australia
- Hon Septimus Burt KC 1891-92 (Acting)
- Hon Sir Malcolm FraserMalcolm Fraser (surveyor)Sir Malcolm Fraser KCMG was a powerful public servant in colonial Western Australia in the 1870s and 1880s.Malcolm Fraser was born in Gloucestershire, England in 1834. Nothing is known of his early life, except that he must have qualified as a surveyor at some stage, and that he emigrated to New...
1892–1898 - Hon Sir Edward WittenoomEdward WittenoomSir Edward Charles Wittenoom KCMG was an Australian politician, member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for thirty four years.- Early life :...
1898–1901 - Hon Sir Henry LefroyHenry LefroySir Henry Bruce Lefroy KCMG was the eleventh Premier of Western Australia.-Biography:Lefroy was born in Perth, Western Australia on 24 March 1854. His father was Anthony O'Grady Lefroy, Colonial Treasurer of Western Australia for over 30 years...
1901–1904 - Hon Sir Walter JamesWalter JamesSir Walter Hartwell James KCMG KC was the fifth Premier of Western Australia and an ardent supporter of the federation movement....
1904–1907 - Hon Sir Cornthwaite RasonCornthwaite RasonSir Cornthwaite Hector William James Rason , better known as Hector Rason, was the seventh Premier of Western Australia....
1907–1911 - Hon Sir Newton MooreNewton MooreMajor-General Sir Newton James Moore KCMG , was the eighth Premier of Western Australia and a member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1918 to 1932....
1911–1917 - Hon Sir James Connolly 1917–1923
- Hon Sir Hal ColebatchHal ColebatchSir Harry Pateshall Colebatch CMG , better known as Sir Hal Colebatch, was a long-serving and occasionally controversial figure in Western Australian politics...
1923–1927 - Hon William AngwinWilliam AngwinWilliam C. "Bill" Angwin was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League . Angwin played three games for Melbourne early in the 1913 VFL season before switching to St Kilda later in the season, playing six games and kicking one goal in the year and a half he was at...
1927–1933 - Hon Sir Hal ColebatchHal ColebatchSir Harry Pateshall Colebatch CMG , better known as Sir Hal Colebatch, was a long-serving and occasionally controversial figure in Western Australian politics...
1933–1939 - Hon Michael Troy 1939–1947
- Hon William Kitson 1947–1952
- Hon James Dimmitt 1953–1957
- Hon Ernest HoarErnest HoarErnest Knight Hoar was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1943 to 1957, representing Nelson until 1950 and Warren-Blackwood thereafter. He served as Minister for Lands and Agriculture from 1953 to 1957....
1957–1965 - Hon Gerald Wild 1965–1971
- Hon William Bovell 1971–1974
- Jim Richards 1975-1978
- Les Slade 1978-1982
- Ron Douglas 1982-1986
- Hon Ron DaviesRon Davies (Western Australian politician)Ronald "Ron" Davies was an Australian politician, who was an Australian Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Victoria Park from 1961 to 1986....
1986–1990 - David Fischer 1990-1992
- Gary Stokes 1992-1994
- Bill Hassell 1994–1996
- Hon Clive Griffiths 1997–2001
- Robert Fisher 2001–2005
- Noel Ashcroft 2005–2008
- Kerry Sanderson 2008–present
Agent-General for Nigeria
The last Nigerian Agent-Generals in London were:- Northern Region-Baba Gana
- Eastern Region-A. Ekukinam-Bassey
- Western Region-
- Mid-West Region-