Alan Burns (governor)
Encyclopedia
Sir Alan Cuthbert Maxwell Burns GCMG (b. 9 November 1887 – 29 September 1980) was a British
colonial administrator
and governor.
Burns was born in Basseterre
and had three siblings. His father James Patrick Burns who was married to Agnes Zulma Delisle was treasurer of St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla and died in 1896. In 1901 Burns matriculated to St. Edmund's College
in Old Hall Green
. His mother died in Hertfordshire
in 1914. In the same year he married Kathleen Fitzpatrick Hardtman with two daughters named Barbara and Benedicta.
Burns had several posts at the Colonial Service
. He served on the Leeward Islands
from 1905 to 1912 and afterwards in Nigeria
until 1924. In 1927 he became Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George and served as Colonial Secretary
of the Bahamas until 1929. From 1929 to 1934 he was Deputy Chief Secretary to Government of Nigeria. Afterwards he was posted to British Honduras
where he was governor from 2 November 1934 until 24 February 1939. During this period he was made Knight Commander
of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1936. In 1942 he became knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
. From 1942 until December 18, 1943 he served as governor of Nigeria. After a short time as Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies he was governor of the Gold Coast from 29 June 1942 until 2 August 1947. He was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1946 and after retiring he served as Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom on the UN Trusteeship Council
until 1956. Burns died at Westminster Hospital
in London
.
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
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and governor.
Burns was born in Basseterre
Basseterre
Basseterre , estimated population 15,500 in 2000, is the capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kitts Island, and it is one of the chief commercial depots of the Leeward Islands...
and had three siblings. His father James Patrick Burns who was married to Agnes Zulma Delisle was treasurer of St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla and died in 1896. In 1901 Burns matriculated to St. Edmund's College
St. Edmund's College, Ware
St Edmund's College is the oldest post-Reformation Roman Catholic school in England. It is an independent school in the British public school tradition set on in Ware, Hertfordshire. During two periods of its history, it has also incorporated a seminary....
in Old Hall Green
Old Hall Green
Old Hall Green is a village in Hertfordshire, England.In 1793, an academy, St. Edmund's College, Ware, was established there which provided a school for Catholic boys and a seminary to train priests serving England's recusant community. St Edmund's College was one of two facilities which replaced...
. His mother died in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
in 1914. In the same year he married Kathleen Fitzpatrick Hardtman with two daughters named Barbara and Benedicta.
Burns had several posts at the Colonial Service
Colonial Service
The Colonial Service was the British government service which administered Britain's colonies and protectorates, under the authority of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Colonial Office in London....
. He served on the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
from 1905 to 1912 and afterwards in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
until 1924. In 1927 he became Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George and served as Colonial Secretary
Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary is the title of a senior civil servant in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, historically, in the British Empire. Prior to the dissolution of the colonies, the Chief Secretary was the second most important official in a colony of the British Empire after the...
of the Bahamas until 1929. From 1929 to 1934 he was Deputy Chief Secretary to Government of Nigeria. Afterwards he was posted to British Honduras
British Honduras
British Honduras was a British colony that is now the independent nation of Belize.First colonised by Spaniards in the 17th century, the territory on the east coast of Central America, south of Mexico, became a British crown colony from 1862 until 1964, when it became self-governing. Belize became...
where he was governor from 2 November 1934 until 24 February 1939. During this period he was made Knight Commander
Knight Commander
Knight Commander is the second most senior grade of seven British orders of chivalry, three of which are dormant . The rank entails admission into knighthood, allowing the recipient to use the title 'Sir' or 'Dame' before his or her name...
of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1936. In 1942 he became knight of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. From 1942 until December 18, 1943 he served as governor of Nigeria. After a short time as Assistant Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies he was governor of the Gold Coast from 29 June 1942 until 2 August 1947. He was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1946 and after retiring he served as Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom on the UN Trusteeship Council
United Nations Trusteeship Council
The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations, was established to help ensure that trust territories were administered in the best interests of their inhabitants and of international peace and security...
until 1956. Burns died at Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital
Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.