Andrew Caldecott
Encyclopedia
Sir Andrew Caldecott, GCMG, KBE (Chinese:
郝德傑) (1884–1951) was a British
colonial administrator.
, England
. His father was a cleric. Caldecott was educated at Uppingham
, and Exeter College, Oxford
, where he became an Honorary Fellow in 1948.
Later in his time in Malaya, Caldecott served as:
Through his experience in the Malayan administration, Caldecott was famous for his ability to settle quarrels between different ethnic groups.
. His tenure was the shortest in Hong Kong colonial history, for he was appointed the second last governor of Ceylon
a little more than a year later to handle the threat to the British administration caused by the overwhelming national liberation movement in Ceylon. When arriving in Hong Kong to assume the Governorship, Caldecott, unusually, elected to wear civilian dress, something that would not happen again until the arrival, in 1992, of the last colonial Governor, Chris Patten
.
It was during Caldecott's tenure that Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport received its first regular arrival, the "Dorado" and the Queen Mary Hospital opened as an adjunct hospital to the Hong Kong University (the hospital is now under the control of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority). His tenure also saw the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War
, with more than 100,000 refugees from the Chinese Mainland flooding into Hong Kong to escape the conflict.
, is named after him.
In Singapore
, Caldecott Hill, Caldecott Close and Andrew Road are named after him, and Olive Road is named after his first wife.
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
郝德傑) (1884–1951) was a British
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...
colonial administrator.
Early Life, Education
Sir Andrew Caldecott was born on 26 October 1884 in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His father was a cleric. Caldecott was educated at Uppingham
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
, and Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he became an Honorary Fellow in 1948.
Colonial Services career
Between 1907 and 1935, he held various appointments in the Malayan Civil Service, including:- Acting Controller of Labour
- Under-Secretary to the Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
- Commissioner of Lands Federated Malay StatesFederated Malay StatesThe Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
- Secretary for Postal Affairs
- Acting British Resident at Negri Sembilan
- Acting British Resident at PerakPerakPerak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
- and British Resident at SelangorSelangorSelangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
.
Later in his time in Malaya, Caldecott served as:
- Chief Secretary to the Government of the Federated Malay StatesFederated Malay StatesThe Federated Malay States was a federation of four protected states in the Malay Peninsula—Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang—established by the British government in 1895, which lasted until 1946, when they, together with the Straits Settlements and the Unfederated Malay...
(1931–1933) - Colonial Secretary to the Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
(1933–1935) - Officer Administering the Government of the Straits SettlementsStraits SettlementsThe Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
and High Commissioner for the Malay States (1934).
Through his experience in the Malayan administration, Caldecott was famous for his ability to settle quarrels between different ethnic groups.
Governor of Hong Kong
In 1935, Caldecott was appointed governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
. His tenure was the shortest in Hong Kong colonial history, for he was appointed the second last governor of Ceylon
Governor of Ceylon
The British Governor of Ceylon was an official who ruled Ceylon during the British colonial period between 1798 and 1948....
a little more than a year later to handle the threat to the British administration caused by the overwhelming national liberation movement in Ceylon. When arriving in Hong Kong to assume the Governorship, Caldecott, unusually, elected to wear civilian dress, something that would not happen again until the arrival, in 1992, of the last colonial Governor, Chris Patten
Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....
.
It was during Caldecott's tenure that Hong Kong's Kai Tak Airport received its first regular arrival, the "Dorado" and the Queen Mary Hospital opened as an adjunct hospital to the Hong Kong University (the hospital is now under the control of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority). His tenure also saw the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, with more than 100,000 refugees from the Chinese Mainland flooding into Hong Kong to escape the conflict.
Personal life
Caldecott married Olive Mary in 1918. They had one son and one daughter. After Olive Mary's death in 1943, Caldecott married again 1946 to Evelyn May. Caldecott died on 14 July 1951.Awards and honours
- C.M.G.Order of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, 1932 - K.C.M.G., 1937
- G.C.M.G., 1941
- C.B.E.Order of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1926 - K.B.E.Order of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, 1935 - K.St.J.Venerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
, 1936 - Awarded M.A.Master's degreeA master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in OxonOxonOxon may refer to:* Oxon, England, short for Oxonia , a county in the United Kingdom* Oxon , an organic compound* Universitas Oxoniensis, the University of Oxford... - Awarded LL.D. in Ceylon
- Malayan Commissioner, British Empire ExhibitionBritish Empire ExhibitionThe British Empire Exhibition was a colonial exhibition held at Wembley, Middlesex in 1924 and 1925.-History:It was opened by King George V on St George's Day, 23 April 1924. The British Empire contained 58 countries at that time, and only Gambia and Gibraltar did not take part...
, 1924-5 - Member, Royal Asiatic SocietyRoyal Asiatic SocietyThe Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
(M.R.A.S.) - Fellow, Royal Society of ArtsRoyal Society of ArtsThe Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
(F.R.S.A.) - Honorary Fellow, Royal Philharmonic Society, 1947
Writings
- History of Jelebu
- Not Exactly Ghosts, London: Arnold, 1947 (Including: "A Room in a Rectory", "Branch Line to Benceston", "Sonata in D Minor", "Autoepitaphy", "Whiffs of the Sea", The Pump in Thorp's Spinney", "Light in the Darkness", "Decastroland", A Victim of Medusa", "Fits of the Blues", "Christmas Reunion", "In Due Course".)
- Fires Burn Blue, London: Arnold, 1948 (Including: "An Exchange of Notes", "Cheap and Nasty", "Grey Brothers", "Quintet", "Authorship Disputed", "Final Touches", "What's in a Name", "Under the Mistletoe", "His Name was Legion", "Tall Tales but True", "A Book Entry", "Seeds of Remembrance", "Seated One Day at the Organ".)
- All the stories in Not Exactly Ghosts and Fires Burn Blue were reprinted by Ash-Tree Press in the collection Not Exactly Ghosts (2002).
Places named after Andrew Caldecott
In Hong Kong, Caldecott Road, a road in New KowloonNew Kowloon
New Kowloon is an area in Kowloon, Hong Kong, bounded in the south by Boundary Street, and in the north by the ranges of the Lion Rock, Beacon Hill, Tate's Cairn and Kowloon Peak...
, is named after him.
In Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Caldecott Hill, Caldecott Close and Andrew Road are named after him, and Olive Road is named after his first wife.
See also
- History of Hong KongHistory of Hong KongHong Kong began as a coastal island geographically located off the southern coast of China. While pockets of settlements had taken place in the region with archaeological findings dating back thousands of years, regular written records were not made...
- Tarik O'ReganTarik O'ReganTarik O'Regan , full name Tarik Hamilton O'Regan , is a British composer, partly of Algerian extraction. His compositions number over 90 and are partially represented on 22 recordings which have been recognised with two GRAMMY nominations. He is also the recipient of two British Composer Awards...
(great grandson) - K. L. F. M. S. Correspondence Ref: No 3663-1917