Edward Merewether


Sir Edward Marsh Merewether, was a British colonial administrator.

Early life and background

Merewether was born in Meriden, Warwickshire, England on 9 September 1858, the second son of British Indian Army officer Major General Sir William Merewether and Harriett Dale. His grandfather was the Serjeant-at-law and Town Clerk of London, Henry Alworth Merewether. His uncle, Edward Christopher Merewether, was a prominent civil servant and businessman in the Colony of New South Wales and for whom the suburb of Merewether was named. Merewether was educated at Harrow School.

Colonial career

Straits Settlements

After passing the civil service exam, Merewether was accepted as a cadet in the Straits Settlements Civil Service in 1880 and rose to become Superintendent of the Census in 1891 and Inspector of Prisons in 1893. As Assistant Colonial Secretary and Clerk of Councils from 1897, he acted on two occasions as resident Councillor and Colonial Treasurer in Malacca. In 1901 he was appointed as Resident Minister to the Sultan of Selangor, Alauddin Sulaiman Shah. For his service in the colony he was made a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the November 1902 Birthday Honours list.
In 1883 he married Honoria Clementina Mary Braddell, the daughter of the first Attorney-General of Singapore, Sir Thomas Braddell.

Malta

Merewether was appointed Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary to the Government of Malta in May 1902, serving until 1911. He arrived in Malta on 21 August 1902 to take up the position. On the occasion of King Edward VII's visit to the island the following year, he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order on 21 April 1903. When the King visited Malta again in April 1907, Merewether was promoted to Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

Sierra Leone

In March 1911, Merewether was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Sierra Leone. In the 1916 New Year Honours, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. Merewether's term expired in early 1916 and was due to return to England on board the British and African Steamer, SS Appam, but was taken prisoner when the ship was captured by the Imperial German Navy raider on 15 January 1916. He and his wife were released when the Appam arrived under control of its German prize crew in Norfolk, Virginia, in early February.

Later life

Merewether was lastly appointed as Governor of the Leeward Islands, serving from 1916 to 1921. In September 1920, he entertained Edward, Prince of Wales at Government House, Antigua on the occasion of his visit to the West Indies.
He died in Kensington, London, on 28 December 1938.

Honours