William Thomas Mercer
William Thomas Mercer (Chinese: 孖沙) (17 October 1821 – 23 May 1879) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Colonial Treasurer (1845–1854), Auditor General (1854–1858),[1] Colonial Secretary (1854–1868),[2] and Administrator, between 15 March 1865 to 11 March 1866. He was succeeded by Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, who became the 6th Governor of Hong Kong.
Mercer married Mary Phillips Nind September 1862. Mary was born in Hargrave, Berkshire c 1836.
Mercer, arrived in Hong Kong in 1844 as Private Secretary to his uncle, Sir John Davis. Mercer is the nephew of John Francis Davis, the second Governor of Hong Kong (1844 - 1848).
Mercer became Colonial Secretary on 29 November 1854 and remained thereafter the chief executive officer of the Colony until retirement on pension in 1867.
In 1869 Mercer published the book "Under the Peak; or, Jottings in Verse".
Honours
Mercer Street is a short and narrow road in Sheung Wan running from Jervois Street to Bonham Strand is named after him.
References
- ↑ Audit Commission: Directors of Audit to date
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 21635. p. 3909. 1 December 1854. Retrieved 2009-06-27.
External links
Further reading
- Endacott, G. B. (2005) [1962]. A biographical sketch-book of early Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. ISBN 978-962-209-742-1.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Caine |
Auditor-General of Hong Kong 1854–1858 |
Succeeded by William Hepburn Rennie |
| Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong 1854–1868 |
Succeeded by John Cardiner Austin | |
| Preceded by Sir Hercules Lord Robinson, Bt |
Administrator of Hong Kong March 1865 – March 1866 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell |