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Cornelius Alfred Moloney

1848 – 1913

British Colonial administrator

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About Cornelius Alfred Moloney

Lived 1848 – 1913 (aged 64–65). Cornelius Alfred Moloney was a British politician, botanist and colonial administrator.

Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney (1848 – 13 August 1913) was a British colonial administrator.

He served as British Administrator of The Gambia from 1884 to 1886, Governor of Lagos Colony from 1886 to 1890, Governor of British Honduras from 1891 to 1897, Governor of the Federal Colony of the Windward Islands from 1897 to 1900, and Governor of Trinidad and Tobago from November 1900 to 1904. It was during his term as governor of Trinidad and Tobago that the 1903 Water Riots took place. The riot resulted in the destruction of the Red House, the seat of government.

Moloney was made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.) the 1882 Birthday Honours, later being promoted to Knight Commander (K.C.M.G.) in the 1890 New Year Honours.

Moloney was concerned that the economic value of products of colonies in general, and of those administered by him in his diplomatic roles in particular, should be better propagated, and he believed that this would encourage the economy and provide instruction to the natives. To this end he established an exemplary botanical garden, in 1883, at Kokoinaiko (possibly Okokomaiko), Lagos colony, for the growth of plants of marketable value, including rubber, kola, cotton, shea butter, gum, indigo cacao and others. In his words, "I thought to conduct this operation in such a manner as to encourage economy, replenishing, and the diffusion of useful and botanical knowledge of commercial importance". The garden fell into neglect after he was posted to the British Honduras.

Mimetillus moloneyi (Moloney's mimic bat) was named after him.

After the death of his first wife, he married on 2 March 1897 Frances Isabella Sophia Mary Lewis (1873–1959), daughter of Irish MP Henry Owen Lewis. They moved to Italy in 1911 when his health declined, and he died in Fiesole. "Sketch of the Forestry of West Africa with Particular Reference to Its Present Principal Commercial Products", Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney, 1887, S. Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. "From a Silver to a Gold Standard in British Honduras", an article from The North American Review, Volume 163. 1896. "Preferential Tariff within the British Empire" is an article from The North American Review, Volume 187. 1908.

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Important facts

Born
1848
Birth century
Positions held
Governor of the Windward Islands, Administrator of the Gambia, Governor of Lagos Colony, Governor of British Honduras
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Also known as
Moloney, Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney

People in Cornelius Alfred Moloney's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Cornelius Alfred Moloney's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Cornelius Alfred Moloney?

British Colonial administrator (1848-1913)

When was Cornelius Alfred Moloney born?

Cornelius Alfred Moloney was born in 1848.

When did Cornelius Alfred Moloney die?

Cornelius Alfred Moloney died on 13 August 1913.

What was Cornelius Alfred Moloney's occupation?

Cornelius Alfred Moloney was a politician, botanist and colonial administrator.

What nationality was Cornelius Alfred Moloney?

Cornelius Alfred Moloney was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Cornelius Alfred Moloney

· Wikidata: Q1133716

· DBpedia: Cornelius Alfred Moloney

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Cornelius Alfred Moloney. https://biography.guide/cornelius-alfred-moloney/

MLA: "Cornelius Alfred Moloney." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/cornelius-alfred-moloney/.

Chicago: "Cornelius Alfred Moloney." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/cornelius-alfred-moloney/.

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