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Sir Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger (Chinese Translated Name 砵甸乍; also 璞鼎查 in Qing document) (3rd October 1789 - 18th March 1856) was a British soldier and colonial administrator, who became the 1st Governor of Hong Kong.
Early life, education, military career
Henry Pottinger was born at Mount Pottinger, at that time a rural area outside of Belfast, Ireland. He is the son of Eldred Curwen Pottinger and Anne Gordon. He studied at the Belfast Royal Academy.
In 1801, he went to Bombay. In 1806, he joined the British East India Company and in 1809, he fought in the Mahratta war as a lieutenant. Pottinger later explored much of the land between India and Persia and became Resident Administrator of Sindh in 1820. He later held the same post in Hyderabad.
In 1820, he married Susanna Maria Cooke.
Governor of Hong Kong
He became the second British Administrator of Hong Kong (12th August 1841 - 26 June 1843) and the first Governor of Hong Kong ( 26 June 1843 - 8th May 1844). Before this appointment, Pottinger led a navy to defeat Yick Shan (奕山) at Humen and, as an envoy for the United Kingdom, negotiated the terms of the Treaty of Nanking (1842), which ended the First Opium War, with the Chinese Qing Empire.
On 26 April 1843, the Governor's residence (Former French Mission Building) was robbed.
On 26 June 1843, he was appointed to become the Chief Commander of the British troops stationed in Hong Kong.
During his very short tenure, Pottinger established executive and legislative chambers, with one discussing political affairs band one designing legal codes. However, the chambers did not convene often, and this gave Pottinger wide-ranging powers to decide on policy.
Towards the end of his tenure, Pottinger lost the support of the local British merchants and was isolated. He left on 7 May 1844.
During his governorship, Hong Kong became the major port for trading opium in China.
Post-governorship
Pottinger became a member of the Privy Council in 1844, and became Governor of Madras in 1847. In 1851, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.
He died in retirement in Malta in 1856.
Places named after him
- Pottinger Street in Central, Hong Kong Island
- Pottinger Peak on Hong Kong Island near Siu Sai Wan
- Pottinger Gap between Pottinger Peak and Mount Collinson
- Pottingers Entry off High Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland
See also
Governors of Hong Kong | 1789 births | 1856 deaths | Natives of Belfast | British colonial governors and administrators | Non-Chinese known by Chinese names
"Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger"