Joseph West Ridgeway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph West Ridgeway
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| 18th Governor of British Ceylon | |
| In office 10 February 1896 – 19 November 1903 |
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| Monarch | Victoria, Edward VII |
| Preceded by | Edward Noël Walker (Acting governor) |
| Succeeded by | Sir Everard im Thurn (Acting governor) |
| 11th Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man | |
| In office 1893–1895 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Preceded by | Sir Spencer Walpole |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Henniker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph West Ridgeway
16 May 1844 High Roding, Essex, England |
| Died | 16 April 1930 (aged 85) London, England |
| Spouse | Carolina Ellen "Lina" Bewicke |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Bengal Infantry |
| Years of service | 1860–1869 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Sir Joseph West Ridgeway (born May 16, 1844 – died April 16, 1930) was an important British official. He worked for the government in different roles around the world. People often called him "Sir West Ridgeway."
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Joseph West Ridgeway went to St Paul's School, London. In 1860, he joined the Bengal Army as an officer. An officer is a leader in the army. He served in India.
In 1869, he changed careers. He began working for the government in India as a civil servant. A civil servant helps run the country. In 1881, he married Carolina Ellen Bewicke, who was known as Lina.
Working for the Government Abroad
Defining Borders in Afghanistan
In 1884, Sir Joseph was given an important job. He led the Indian team for the Afghan Boundary Commission. This group was set up by Britain and Russia. Their goal was to figure out exactly where the northern border of Afghanistan was. This helped prevent arguments between countries. The next year, he became the main leader of this commission.
Roles in Ireland and the Isle of Man
From 1887 to 1892, Sir Joseph worked as the Under-Secretary for Ireland. This was a senior role in the government of Ireland. After that, he became the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man. He held this position from 1893 to 1895. The Lieutenant Governor is like the Queen's representative on the island.
Governor of Ceylon
Sir Joseph West Ridgeway became the Governor of Ceylon in 1896. Ceylon is now known as Sri Lanka. As governor, he was in charge of the British colony there. He served in this important role until 1903.
Later Life and Recognition
After his time as governor, Sir Joseph tried to become a member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. This is a part of the British Parliament where laws are made. He ran for election twice but did not win.
He received several special awards for his service. These included:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in 1900.
- Honorary degrees (LL.D.) from the University of Cambridge in 1902.
- Another honorary degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1902.
A type of Asian snake, called Lytorhynchus ridgewayi, was named after him. This was done to honor his work.
