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Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell | |||||||||
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| 6th Governor of Hong Kong | |||||||||
| In office 11 March 1866 – 16 April 1872 | |||||||||
| Monarch | Victoria | ||||||||
| Lieutenant | Sir Philip Guy James Brunker Henry Whitfield | ||||||||
| Colonial Secretary | John Gardiner Austin | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Hercules Robinson | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Sir Arthur Kennedy | ||||||||
| 31st Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia | |||||||||
| In office 24 May 1864 – October 1865 | |||||||||
| Monarch | Victoria | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Charles Hastings Doyle | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | General Sir William Williams | ||||||||
| 6th Governor of South Australia | |||||||||
| In office 8 June 1855 – 4 March 1862 | |||||||||
| Monarch | Victoria | ||||||||
| Premier | Boyle Travers Finniss John Baker Robert Torrens Richard Hanson Thomas Reynolds George Waterhouse | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Sir Henry Fox Young | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Sir Dominic Daly | ||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | (1814-09-03)3 September 1814 | ||||||||
| Died | 5 February 1881(1881-02-05) (aged 66) | ||||||||
| Resting place | Kensal Green Cemetery,London,England | ||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin (BA,MA,LLB,LLD) | ||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 麥當奴 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 麦当奴 | ||||||||
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Sir Richard Graves MacDonnellKCMG CB (Chinese:麥當奴; 3 September 1814 – 5 February 1881) was anAnglo-Irish lawyer, judge and colonial governor. His posts as governor includedGovernor of the British Settlements in West Africa,Governor of Saint Vincent,Governor of South Australia,Governor of Nova Scotia andGovernor of Hong Kong. Several places around the world are named for him, includingMacDonnell Road in Hong Kong and theMacDonnell Ranges andSir Richard Peninsula in Australia.
Richard Graves MacDonnell was born inDublin, 8 September 1814, the second son ofRichard MacDonnell, theProvost of Trinity College, Dublin, and Jane Graves (1793–1882), second daughter ofRichard Graves, Dean of Ardagh. He was a nephew ofRobert James Graves and the brother of Major-GeneralArthur Robert MacDonnell. His first cousins includedLady Valentine Blake of Menlough, SirWilliam Collis Meredith,Edmund Allen Meredith,John Dawson Mayne andFrancis Brinkley. MacDonnell enteredTrinity College Dublin in 1830, was elected a scholar in 1833, and graduated B.A. (1835), M.A., (1836),LL.B., (1845), andLL.D.., (1862)[1][2]
MacDonnell was called to the Irish bar in 1838, and to the English bar, atLincoln's Inn, 25 January 1841. On 20 July 1843, he was appointed to the new post ofChief Justice of the Gambia. After four years there, amidst long breaks for his health travelling through the United States and Canada, he intended to hand in his resignation toHenry Grey, 3rd Earl Grey and resume practice at the English bar. But, on 1 October 1847, Grey persuaded him otherwise and appointed himGovernor of the British settlements in Gambia, a post he held for a further four years.
While inGambia, MacDonnell (a cousin of the explorers Captain SirRichard Francis Burton and AdmiralRichard Charles Mayne) spent much of his time indulging his passion for exploration, and organising punitive campaigns against unruly native tribes. His expeditions opened up the interior of Africa from theGambia River to theSenegal River. The military expeditions which he accompanied against native tribes who had long oppressed the traders of the river were a success and extended the limits of British commerce in the region. On one visit to a native king an ambush was laid for him, and he narrowly avoided being assassinated. In return, the British government sent four hundred men to inflict a summary chastisement, with MacDonnell acting as Captain of one of the volunteer companies.[3]
In 1852, (when he was also gazetted Companion of theOrder of the Bath) he was nominated asLieutenant Governor ofSt. Lucia, but without taking up the post he was sent, 10 January 1853, to become administrator andCaptain General of the island ofSt. Vincent. He wasLieutenant General of St Vincent from 1853 to 1854.
Described as a 'dominant personality' and having gained a reputation for forthrightness and intolerance, MacDonnell was appointed the sixthGovernor of South Australia, arriving 9 June 1855, taking over fromBoyle Travers Finniss who had been acting since the departure of SirHenry Young. Shortly before leaving for Australia, in 1856 he was madeKnight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George byQueen Victoria atBuckingham Palace.
Soon after his arrival in Australia, MacDonnell was involved in heated debate over the composition of the legislature; MacDonnell favoured a single chamber while the majority of colonists preferred a two-house system, which brought him the support of the conservatives, but united the liberals and radicals against him. Eventually a two-house system prevailed, although theUpper House had a property franchise. Difficulties between MacDonnell and his officials led to several changes of government. He extended railway and telegraph communications within thecolony and opened up valuable copper mines on theYorke Peninsula, while increasing the progress in agricultural and pastoral pursuits.
MacDonnell showed little concern for the Australian working class, holding that charity fostered sloth and pauperism. He was particularly impressed with the settlers from Germany, and he predicted that the colony had a great future for producing wine. In his seven-year term the acreage under wheat doubled in South Australia and he argued that farmers with capital would succeed as long as their methods did not rob the soil.
MacDonnell's passion for exploration greatly aided in opening up the interior of Australia, in particular theMurray River, and he developed many of the natural resources of the colony. He travelled widely in the colony and in 1859 led a small party to investigate country around the northern lakes and claypans, riding 1,800 miles (2,900 km) in three months. He maintained thatCharles Sturt andEdward John Eyre were overrated as explorers as they seemed "generally to have a knack of getting into the most dismal places and finding barrenness from Dan to Beersheba". He instead urged the colonists to support the efforts ofJohn McDouall Stuart to cross the continent.
MacDonnell was regarded in Australia as both 'powerful and hospitable'. He was an enthusiastic member of local rifle and archery clubs and keenly interested in the volunteer defence movement. He also identified himself with most of the literary, artistic and philanthropic organizations. He saw himself as a leader and innovator, and though genial, at times his bustling energy dismayedAdelaide society. As a patron of South Australian culture he encouraged students who could not travel abroad to continue their post-primary schooling, and with his customary dash personally examined candidates and donated prizes, but his plan collapsed after he left the colony. He left South Australia, 4 March 1862, for a holiday in Ireland before taking up his next post.
On the recommendation of his predecessor,George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby, MacDonnell was appointedGovernor of Nova Scotia from 28 May 1864, until October 1865, taking up residence atGovernment House (Nova Scotia). His arrival coincided with theConfederation of Canada which he made no secret of being in opposition to, and he refused to become a tool of either theBritish Colonial Secretary or theGovernor General of Canada, telling Prime Minister SirJohn A. Macdonald, "You shall not make a mayor ofme, I can tell you!" Confederation went ahead, making MacDonnell's tenure inNova Scotia a short one. He was succeeded by one of Nova Scotia's most distinguished sons, GeneralSir William Fenwick Williams, 1st Baronet, of Kars.
On 19 October 1865, MacDonnell was appointed as the sixthGovernor of Hong Kong, a position in which he served until 1872. During his tenure, MacDonnell developedVictoria Peak, which would eventually become the premier residential quarters in Hong Kong, accessible only to rich European merchants. MacDonnell also ordered the construction of a hospital which catered to the needs of the local Chinese population. In addition, he legalised gambling in Hong Kong which led to social problems and was later made illegal once again. In 1871 he was gazettedK.C.M.G.
Finally, MacDonnell's administration was marred by a huge budget deficit, which resulted in the government askingThe Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation for a financial aid package. The administration was also damaged by the actions of theCanton Customs agency, who patrolled the waters off Hong Kong and boarded ships to search for smuggled goods. This was called by Hong Kong's British merchant community a blockade, and affected Hong Kong's economy for the next 20 years.
In 1847, MacDonnell married Blanche Ann, daughter of Francis Skurray of Beckington,Somerset, who lived at Stanhope Place,Hyde Park and Percy Cross Lodge, Fulham, before retiring to 5 Brunswick Square,Brighton. Sir Richard and Lady MacDonnell lived nearHyde Park in London and after his retirement in 1872 they spent much time in Italy and France; Sir Richard died atHyères, 5 February 1881.
Both are buried inKensal Green Cemetery, on the southern side. They died without children.
Named after Richard MacDonnell:
Named after Blanche MacDonnell:
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| Preceded by | Governor of The Gambia 1847–1851 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Saint Vincent 1853–1854 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of South Australia 1855–1862 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Nova Scotia 1864–1865 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Acting AdministratorWilliam Mercer | Governor of Hong Kong 1866–1872 | Succeeded by |
| Governors at Annapolis Royal (1710–1749) | |
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| Governors at Halifax (1749–1786) | |
| Lieutenant governors of Cape Breton Island (1784–1820) | |
| Lieutenant governors of Nova Scotia before responsible government (1786–1848) | |
| Lieutenant governors between responsible government and Confederation (1848–1867) | |
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Lieutenant governors who served in the absence of governors are listed in parentheses. Acting administrators are listed initalics.  Nova Scotia portal | |
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| Commandants of St Mary's Island (1816–1830) | |
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| Lieutenant governors of the Gambia (1829–1843) | |
| Governors of the Gambia (1843–1866) | |
| Administrators of the Gambia (1866–1901) | |
| Governors of the Gambia (1901–1965) | |
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