Arthur Richards 1885-1978

Notes

For full details see 'Old Sinister', a memoir of Sir Arthur Richards, GCMG, First Baron Milverton of Lagos and Clifton in the City of Bristol, by Richard Peel, printed by F. & P. Piggot Ltd., Anderson Court, Newnham Road, Cambridge in 1981.

The following is a brief synopsis of his career.

2nd son of William Richards, timber merchant, whose family tree has been traced back to Edward Richards of Milverton who married Eleanor daughter and co-heiress of John Avenell, Lord of Loxbere (died 25/3/1513) in the reign of Henry II.

Arthur was educated at Clifton, where he acquired his passion for books (eventually building a library of some 2,000 books). In 1904, he went to Christ Church, Oxford. In 1907 he sat the Civil Service exam and in 1908 proceeded to Malaya. In 1909 he was made Assistant District Officer, Port Dickson. Various appointments followed over the next ten years. In 1920 he became 2nd Assistant Colonial Secretary in Singapore. In 1930 he became Governor of North Borneo, then in 1933 Governor of Gambia. In 1936 he was then appointed Governor of Fiji, followed two years later by Governor of Jamaica, which he left in summer 1943.

In 1944 Arthur became Governor of Nigeria, the most senior of the Colonial Office posts.

He was created a peer in the Birthday Honours list of 1947, taking his retirement in that year. However, this now enabled him to pursue a second career in politics and was extremely active in the House of Lords, still visiting four days a week in his ninetieth year, making his last speech on 8/11/1973. In 1975, after his return home one evening, he took a severe fall down the stairs and never attended the House again since his memory was affected. He died at The Lodge, Cox Green, Nr. Maidenhead on 27th October 1978.

ID: 74   Generated by GedTree on 27 Aug 2002

Name Index Surname Index Contact Home