Sir George Bonham, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Samuel George Bonham, 1st Baronet KCB
(Chinese Translated Name 文咸 or 般咸) (7 September 1803 – 8 October 1863) was a British
colonial governor, who became the 3rd Governor of Hong Kong
.
. His mother, Isabella, the daughter of Robert Woodgate, was his father's second wife.
and plenipotentiary and superintendent of trade in China on 21 March 1848. During his tenure Bonham cut government spendings to balance the budget and also stimulated the Real Estate market in order to increase government income. His method of increasing government income eventually became the major source of income for the Hong Kong
government a century later. He was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
in 1850. Two years later he was created a Baronet, of Malmesbury, in the County of Wiltshire.
Bonham was known for his calm demeanor and gentle nature. It was due to these qualities that Bonham gained the trust of the British Government and the good relationship of many Hong Kong people. During his governorship, the pirates ruled the water. The Navy had a hard battle with Cheung Po Tsai
and repulsed them. He retired in April 1854.
in Singapore
was Bukit Tuan Bonham, named after him. Bonham St in Raffles Place
, in Singapore. Bonham Road
, Bonham Strand
, Bonham Strand West, and Bonham Road Public Elementary School on Hong Kong Island
, Hong Kong
were all named after him.
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...
(Chinese Translated Name 文咸 or 般咸) (7 September 1803 – 8 October 1863) was a 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 governor, who became the 3rd Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
.
Background
Samuel George Bonham was born in Feversham, Kent on 7 September 1803. He was the son of Captain George Bonham, of the maritime service of the East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. His mother, Isabella, the daughter of Robert Woodgate, was his father's second wife.
Early career
Bonham became Governor of the Straits Settlements in 1837, a post he held for the next six years.Governor of Hong Kong
After a period of service with the East India Company, he was appointed Governor of Hong KongGovernor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
and plenipotentiary and superintendent of trade in China on 21 March 1848. During his tenure Bonham cut government spendings to balance the budget and also stimulated the Real Estate market in order to increase government income. His method of increasing government income eventually became the major source of income for the Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
government a century later. He was awarded a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
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...
in 1850. Two years later he was created a Baronet, of Malmesbury, in the County of Wiltshire.
Bonham was known for his calm demeanor and gentle nature. It was due to these qualities that Bonham gained the trust of the British Government and the good relationship of many Hong Kong people. During his governorship, the pirates ruled the water. The Navy had a hard battle with Cheung Po Tsai
Cheung Po Tsai
Cheung Po Tsai was a 19th century Chinese pirate. He was also known as Cheung Po/Chang Pao/Zhang Bao .Several places in Hong Kong are linked to Cheung Po Tsai:* Cheung Po Tsai Cave, on Cheung Chau island...
and repulsed them. He retired in April 1854.
Personal life
In 1846, Bonham married Ellen Emelia Barnard, the eldest daughter of Thomas Barnard. They had one son, George Francis Bonham (28 August 1847 – 31 July 1927). Bonham's wife died in 1859 and he survived her until 8 October 1863, dying aged 60, of undisclosed causes.Legacy
The later Malay name for Fort CanningFort Canning
Fort Canning is a small hill slightly more than 60 metres high in the southeast portion of the island city-state of Singapore, within the Central Area that forms Singapore's central business district...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
was Bukit Tuan Bonham, named after him. Bonham St in Raffles Place
Raffles Place
Raffles Place is a geographical location in Singapore, south of the mouth of the Singapore River. Located in the Downtown Core and the Central Area, it features some of the tallest buildings and landmarks of the country.-History:...
, in Singapore. Bonham Road
Bonham Road
Bonham Road is a road in Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The road is a main road connecting Pokfulam Road in the west, near the University of Hong Kong, and Caine Road in the east, at the junction with Hospital Road and Seymour Road...
, Bonham Strand
Bonham Strand
Bonham Strand is a combination of two streets in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong: Bonham Strand and Bonham Strand West ....
, Bonham Strand West, and Bonham Road Public Elementary School on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
were all named after him.