| Sir Charles Elliot | |
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Administrator of Hong Kong
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| In office 1841 – 1841 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
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| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | Sir Henry Pottinger |
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| Born | 1801 England |
| Died | 9 September 1875 |
| Nationality |  British |
| Spouse(s) | Cecillia Ness |
| Children | Sir George Elliot, RN and 2 daughters |
| Occupation | colonial administrator |
| Profession | naval officer, diplomat and colonial administrator |
Sir Charles Elliot (Chinese: 義律, 1801 – 9 September 1875) was a British naval officer, diplomat and colonial administrator.
Born in England, he joined the British Royal Navy in 1816. He participated in the bombardment of Algiers, served in India, Africa and the West Indies and became an Admiral.
He was appointed Chief Superintendent of Trade and British Minister to China in 1835 and was based in Macau. He was involved in the First Opium War and attempted to sign the Convention of Chuenpeh in 1841[1], in which Qing ceded Hong Kong Island to Britain and was forced to tolerate the sale of Opium which caused large-scale problems of addiction among its population. He became the first British administrator of Hong Kong, holding office from January to August 1841.
From 1842 to 1845 he was Chargé d'affaires in Texas. From 1847 to 1852 he was the Governor of Bermuda, from 1853 to 1856 the Governor of Trinidad, and from 1863 to 1869 the Governor of Saint Helena.
In 1855, as Commodore, he also had command of a flottila made up of HMS Hornet, HMS Sybille and HMS Bittern. This flotilla, on 25 April 1855, discovered an island in the Sea of Japan, at 37°17′23″N 131°54′23″E / 37.28972°N 131.90639°E. It was about a mile in extent, running in a NW by W and SE by E direction and formed together by a reef of rocks.
He was made KCB in 1856.
Places named for Elliot
- Elliot's Vale - later renamed Glenealy
References
- ^ George Pottinger, The First Governor of Hong Kong
- Clagette Blake, Charles Elliott, R.N. 1801-1875 (London: Cleaver-Hume, 1960)
Political Summary
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by New Creation |
Governor of Hong Kong 1841 - 1841 |
Succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger |
| Preceded by W. N. Hutchinson |
Governor of Bermuda 1846 - 1852 |
Succeeded by W. Hassell Eden, acting |
| Preceded by Arthur W. Byles, acting |
Governor of Bermuda 1853 - 1854 |
Succeeded by Freeman Murray |
| Preceded by George Francis Robert Harris |
Governor of Trinidad 1854 - 1856 |
Succeeded by Robert William Keate |
| Preceded by Sir Edward Hay Drummond Hay |
Governor of Saint Helena 1863 - 1869 |
Succeeded by Vice Admiral Charles George Edward Patey |
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