Henry Chester

For the Irish politician, see Henry Chester (MP).

Henry Marjoribanks Chester (30 December 1832 – 3 October 1914) was a public servant and police magistrate in colonial Queensland.[1]

Chester was born in London, England, son of William Chester, and educated at Christ's Hospital, the London School in Newgate Street and the Royal Mathematical School.[1] In 1849 Chester entered the service of the Indian navy and remained an officer in it until its abolition in 1862.[1]

Chester was in the Queensland Government service from 1876, and in 1877 was sent on an exploring expedition to New Guinea.[2] In July of the next year Chester was appointed by Arthur Hamilton-Gordon, 1st Baron Stanmore to represent him in New Guinea in his capacity as High Commissioner of the Western Pacific.[2] In 1883, when Sir Thomas McIlwraith decided on annexing the island on behalf of the Queensland Government, Chester was employed to proclaim the Queen's sovereignty, which he carried into effect on 4 April. Chester was a police magistrate at Croydon, Queensland from November 1887.[2] Chester was transferred to Cooktown in 1891, to Clermont in 1898 and Gladstone in 1902.[1]

Chester died in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, on 3 October 1914; he was survived by two of his three sons.[1]

Frank Jardine and Henry Chester (who was a temporary replacement magistrate at Somerset) conducted at least two large punitive expeditions on Muralag Island.[3] In July 1869, Jardine led his native troopers and armed crewmen from the blackbirding vessel Melanie in a dawn raid on a village on the island killing many people. Chester, in April of 1870 would lead an armed group on a raid, which resulted in the burning down of Muralag village, 20 men being captured and at least three executions.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Bolton, G. C. "Chester, Henry Marjoribanks (1832–1914)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b c Mennell, Philip (1892). "Chester, Henry Majoribanks" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  3. ^ a b Mayo, Thomas (2025). "Zenadth Kes". In Perkins, Rachel; Gapp, Stephen; Murray, Mina; Reynolds, Henry (eds.). The Australian Wars. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. p. 323. ISBN 9781761471582.
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