Edmund Walker Head
Encyclopedia
Sir Edmund Walker Head, 8th Baronet, KCB
(February 16, 1805 – January 28, 1868) was British
colonial administrator.
He was born at Wiarton Place, near Maidstone
, Kent, the son of Reverend Sir John Head, 7th Bt. and Jane (née Walker) Head. He was educated at Winchester College
and Oriel College, Oxford. He succeeded to his father's title in 1838. He was an Oxford
scholar and tutor
who published several books (valued at $99000 Canadian).
He was simultaneously Governor General
of the Province of Canada
and Lieutenant Governor
of Canada West and Canada East
(1854-1861) and formerly Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick
(1847-1854).
He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1857 and knighted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1860. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in April 1863.
While Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, Head authorized the creation of an engineering
faculty at the University of New Brunswick
. This was the first such programme in what would become Canada
. In his honour, the buildings housing this faculty at UNB are called Head Hall. The city of Edmundston, New Brunswick
was named after him. In the county of Renfrew, a township of Head was named in his honour. He died in London
in 1868.
on February 6th, 1849. Anna Maria was an artist, who sketched a picture of the view from
Major's Hill
, Ottawa, Ontario which she subsequently presented to Queen Victoria. Within a month or two after this event Her Majesty chose Ottawa as the seat of Government of United Canada. Lady Head volunteered and bestowed alms among the poor. A memorial of her Ladyship's visit to the Upper Ottawa, in a bark canoe, in 1856, stands at Portage-du-Fort, Quebec
. In the county of Renfrew, a township Maria, was named in her honour. Lady Head died at Oak Lea, Shere, Guildford, England, October 4th, 1890.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(February 16, 1805 – January 28, 1868) was British
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.
He was born at Wiarton Place, near Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, Kent, the son of Reverend Sir John Head, 7th Bt. and Jane (née Walker) Head. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and Oriel College, Oxford. He succeeded to his father's title in 1838. He was an Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
scholar and tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
who published several books (valued at $99000 Canadian).
He was simultaneously Governor General
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
of the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
and Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of Canada West and Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
(1854-1861) and formerly Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
(1847-1854).
He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1857 and knighted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1860. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in April 1863.
While Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, Head authorized the creation of an engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
faculty at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. This was the first such programme in what would become Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In his honour, the buildings housing this faculty at UNB are called Head Hall. The city of Edmundston, New Brunswick
Edmundston, New Brunswick
Edmundston is a Canadian city in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-History:During the early colonial period, the area was an important meeting place and hunting/fishing spot of the Maliseet nation. A considerable sized village was located there around the turn of the 19th century...
was named after him. In the county of Renfrew, a township of Head was named in his honour. He died 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...
in 1868.
Family
He had married Anna Maria Yorke, daughter of Reverend Philip Yorke Prebendary of Ely, and his wife, Hon. Anna Maria Cocks, daughter of the 1st Lord Somers, on 27 November 1838. Anna Maria was born in 1808. The couple had three children. One son accidentally drowned in the river St. Maurice in September, 1859. One of their two daughters was born at Fredericton, New BrunswickFredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
on February 6th, 1849. Anna Maria was an artist, who sketched a picture of the view from
Major's Hill
Major's Hill Park
Major's Hill Park is one of the most notable parks in downtown Ottawa. The park stands above the Rideau Canal at the point where it enters the Ottawa River. Across the canal to the west are the parliament buildings, to the north of the park is the National Gallery of Canada, and to the east are...
, Ottawa, Ontario which she subsequently presented to Queen Victoria. Within a month or two after this event Her Majesty chose Ottawa as the seat of Government of United Canada. Lady Head volunteered and bestowed alms among the poor. A memorial of her Ladyship's visit to the Upper Ottawa, in a bark canoe, in 1856, stands at Portage-du-Fort, Quebec
Portage-du-Fort, Quebec
Portage-du-Fort is a village and municipality in the Pontiac Regional County Municipality in the southwest corner of the Outaouais region of Quebec, Canada...
. In the county of Renfrew, a township Maria, was named in her honour. Lady Head died at Oak Lea, Shere, Guildford, England, October 4th, 1890.
See also
- List of Lieutenant Governors of New Brunswick
- List of Lieutenant Governors of Ontario
- List of Lieutenant Governors of Quebec