Henry Wagstaffe Thomson Explained

Henry Wagstaffe Thomson
Office:British Adviser Kelantan
Predecessor:John Whitehouse Ward Hughes
Successor:Arthur Furley Worthington
Term Start:1919
Term End:1921
Office1:British Resident Pahang
Termstart1:1921
Termend1:1926
Predecessor1:Cecil William Chase Parr
Successor1:Arthur Furley Worthington
Title3:British Resident Perak
Termstart3:1926
Termend3:1929
Predecessor3:Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor
Successor3:Arthur Furley Worthington
Title2:British Resident Selangor (Acting)
Termstart2:1926
Termend2:1926
Predecessor2:Oswald Francis Gerard Stonor
Successor2:James Lornie
Birth Date:22 February 1874
Death Date:22 April 1941 (aged 67)
Spouse:Yvonne Mary Winn
Nationality:British
Profession:Colonial administrator
Honorific Suffix:CMG
Death Place:In Torquay in German air raid

Henry Wagstaffe Thomson CMG (22 February 1874 – 22 April 1941) was a British colonial administrator who served in Malaya from 1896 to 1928.

Early life

Henry Wagstaffe Thomson was born on 22 February 1874, and was educated at Trinity College, Oxford.[1]

Career

In 1896, he entered the civil service of the Federated Malay States in Selangor as a cadet, was acting assistant Collector of Revenue in Kuala Lumpur (1899-1900), and District Officer at Serendah and then at Kuantan (1900-1903).[2]

In 1903, he was sent on secondment by the government of the Federated Malay States to act as assistant to the British adviser in Kelantan, Siam, where he remained until 1910, receiving from the King of Siam, on an official visit to Kelantan, the 4th Class of the Order of the Crown of Siam.[3]

In 1910, he returned to the Federated Malay States and occupied various positions including District Officer, Klang (1910-1913),[4] Collector of Land Revenue and Registrar of Titles, Selangor (1914-15),[5] District Officer, Larut (1915), and Registrar of Titles, Perak.

In 1919, whilst serving as Chairman of the Kinta Sanitary Board, he was appointed to the substantive position of British adviser to Kelantan having previously acted as assistant in the state for seven years.[6] He remained in office until 1921 when he was appointed British Resident of Pahang, and after five years occupied the same position in Perak, prior to which he briefly acted as British Resident in Selangor.[7] In 1927, he was made Acting Chief Secretary of the Federated Malay States.[8]

Retirement and death

Thomson retired in 1928 to England.[9] He was killed on 22 April 1941 in Torquay during a German bombing raid.[10]

Honours

In 1905, Thomson received the 4th Class Order of the Crown of Siam from the King of Siam whilst serving in Kelantan.[11]

In 1927, he was awarded the Order of St Michael and St George.[12] [13]

References

  1. News: 27 April 1941 . Former British Resident Of Pahang Dead . Sunday Tribune (Singapore) . 16.
  2. Book: Who's who in the Far East, 1906-7, June . 1906 . Hongkong, China mail . University of California Libraries . 391.
  3. News: 14 July 1905 . Untitled . Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle . 5.
  4. News: 29 January 1910 . Government Changes. . The Straits Times . 7.
  5. News: 2 March 1914 . Federal appointments . Straits Echo . 7.
  6. News: 8 February 1919 . Social and personal. . Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle . 5.
  7. News: 29 December 1925 . Untitled . The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser . 11.
  8. News: 7 May 1927 . Social and Personal. . The Straits Times . 8.
  9. News: 6 December 1928 . Hon. Mr. H. W. Thomson’s Departure from Malaya. . The Straits Budget . 16.
  10. News: 29 April 1941 . Deaths . The Straits Times . 2.
  11. Web site: Page 1322 Issue 11788, 22 December 1905 Edinburgh Gazette The Gazette . 2024-03-14 . www.thegazette.co.uk.
  12. News: 4 June 1927 . Birthday Honours. . Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle . 8.
  13. Web site: Supplement 33280, 31 May 1927 London Gazette The Gazette . 2024-03-14 . www.thegazette.co.uk.