John Douglas (colonial administrator)

Sir John Douglas KCMG (5 December 1836 – 22 August 1885) was the Irish-born son of Lt Gen Sir James Dawes Douglas (1795–1862) and Marianne Bullock.^[1]

Sir John Douglas KCMG
Acting Governor of British Ceylon
In office 10 July 1883 – 3 December 1883
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Preceded by	James Robert Longden
Succeeded by	Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
3rd Colonial Secretary of Straits Settlements
In office 17 February 1876 – 17 August 1878
Monarch	Queen Victoria
Governor	Sir William Jervois William C. F. Robinson
Preceded by	Charles J. Irving (Acting)
Succeeded by	Sir Cecil Clementi Smith
16th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
In office 10 March 1870 – 16 June 1876
Preceded by	Robert John Callander
Succeeded by	C. A. D. Barclay
Personal details
Born	5 December 1836 Limerick, Ireland
Died	22 August 1885(1885-08-22) (aged 48) British Ceylon
Resting place	St Paul's Church, Kandy, British Ceylon
Spouse	Alice Anne Claughton
Parents	Lt Gen Sir James Dawes Douglas (father) Marianne Bullock (mother)

Career

Douglas was in the Civil Service of Mauritius 1859–1869 when he transferred to Ceylon where he was Auditor-General between 1869 and 1876. He became Colonial Secretary of the Straits Settlements on 17 February 1876^[2] – 17 August 1878^[3] before returning to Ceylon as Lieut.-Governor and Colonial Secretary, 1878–1880. He was appointed Acting Governor, 10 July 1883 – 3 December 1883.^[4]

Honours

Douglas was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the 1883 Birthday Honours.^[5]

Family

Douglas had married, in 1871, Alice Anne, daughter of Right Rev. Piers Calveley Claughton (d. 1884), Bishop of Colombo, Ceylon. They had five children.^[6]

Death

Sir John Douglas died in Ceylon on 23 August 1885 and was buried at St Paul's Church, Kandy.^[6]