Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger

Sir Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger (Chinese Translated Name 砵甸乍; also 璞鼎查 in Qing document) (3 October 1789 - 18 March 1856) was an Anglo-Irish soldier and colonial administrator, who became the first 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 who in 1831 gave birth to their son, Frederick who would go on to become notorious for his run-ins with bushrangers as Inspector of Police in New South Wales, Australia.

Governor of Hong Kong

He became the second British Administrator of Hong Kong (12 August 1841 - 26 June 1843) and the first Governor of Hong Kong (26 June 1843 - 8 May 1844). Before this appointment, Pottinger led a navy to defeat Yishan (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 the Cape Colony in 1847 and also of Madras in the same year. In 1851, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general.

He died in retirement in Malta in 1856.

Places/Things 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
• Pottinger House Belfast Royal Academy named a house after him. (his school.)
• Mount Pottinger in East Belfast

See also

• History of Hong Kong

af:Henry Pottinger de:Henry Pottinger no:Henry Eldred Curwen Pottinger zh-yue:砵甸乍 zh:砵甸乍