Claud Severn

Sir Claud Severn (Chinese Translated Name: 施勳) (1869–1933) was a British colonial administrator. Severn joined the colonial civil service in British Malaya in 1894 and worked under the Governor of the Straits Settlements. In 1912, he became Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong and remained in the post until 1925. During this period, Severn governed Hong Kong twice as acting administrator during transition periods between Governors.

Early life

Sir Claud Severn was born on 9 September 1869 in Adelaide, South Australia, to Walter Severn (1830－1904) (at one time British Consul in Rome ) and Mary Dalrymple Fergusson (1845-1916). His mother was the daughter of Sir Charles Dalrymple Fergusson, 5th Baronet.

Severn went to St Peter's College, Adelaide and studied Latin and chemistry at the University of Adelaide. He later graduated from Selwyn College, Cambridge

In 1920, at 50, he married Margaret Annie Bullock, the daughter of Thomas Lowndes Bullock who from 1899 was Professor of Chinese at the University of Oxford, and they had two sons and a daughter.

Both Severn and Governor Sir Reginald Stubbs retired in 1925, victims of the general strike which all but destroyed Hong Kong that year and for which they were criticised by James Jamieson, British Consul General in Canton.

Later life

After his service in Hong Kong, Severn departed for Britain and died at the Old Rectory, Ewelme, near Oxford, on 8 April 1933.

Memory

Severn Road, which is located on Mount Gough in Hong Kong, was named after him.

Honours

CMG 1917 KBE 1923