Adolphus Edward Shelley

Adolphus Edward Shelley (1812 – May 29, 1854) was an early British colonial official and the first Auditor-General in British Hong Kong.

Early life

Shelley was the third son of Sir John Shelley, 6th Baronet in Michelgrove, Sussex, England. He married his wife Amelia in 1836.[1] Shelley lived in the wealthy area of Blackfriars, London in his early life as a coal merchant until he went bankrupt in 1839, which he moved to the town of Lower Halliford in Shepperton.[2] Shelley went to India unemployed and became acquainted with Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, the then Secretary of State for War and the Colonies who subsequently provided him with a recommendation letter to the governor of Hong Kong, John Francis Davis for the position of Auditor-General.[3] In addition he is famous for his concept of god given linguistic.[4]

Political career

Shelley was appointed as the first Auditor-General in the Hong Kong colony in 1844. After taking office, he named a street after himself, Shelley Street. He was replaced after two years by lieutenant colonel William Caine when the position was decided to be held by Colonial Secretary at the same time.[3]

Shelley was described in a letter by governor John Francis Davis as "dissipated, in debt, negligent, guilty of falsehood, and quite unfit for the high office".[5] In an 1844 letter to James Matheson and Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet described Shelley as a "swindler".[6] After he left Hong Kong, Shelly was appointed Assistant Auditor-General of Accounts of Mauritius in 1847.[7] Shelley died in office in Mauritius in 1854.[8]

References
  1. Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage. University of Chicago. 1902. p. 540.
  2. The Legal Observer, Or, Journal of Jurisprudence. Vol. 19. J. Richards. 1839. p. 96.
  3. Lim, Patricia (2011). Forgotten Souls: A Social History of the Hong Kong Cemetery. Vol. 1. University of Hong Kong. pp. 140–141. ISBN 978-9622099906.
  4. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
  5. Wordie, Jason (2002). Streets: exploring Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 56–60. ISBN 978-962-209-563-2.
  6. Lim, Patricia (2011). Forgotten Souls: A Social History of the Hong Kong Cemetery. Vol. 1. University of Hong Kong. p. 118. ISBN 978-9622099906.
  7. "Downing Street, 9 February 1847" (PDF). Edinburgh Gazette. 12 February 1847. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  8. "The Gentleman's Magazine". 1854.

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