Ernest Macnaghten

Brigadier-General Ernest Brander Macnaghten CMG DSO (11 September 1872 – 21 November 1948) was a British Army officer who also served as chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council from 1930 to 1932.

Early life

Ernest Brander Macnaghten was born 11 September 1872 in India, the son of William Hay Macnaghten and Alice Ellen Brander. He was educated at Wellington College, Berkshire and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour.

Military career

Macnaghten was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in November 1892. and was promoted to lieutenant on 9 November 1895. He served in India (1894–1896), West Africa (1898–1899), and in South Africa (1900–1902) during the Second Boer War, when he was promoted to captain on 18 April 1900 and attached to the Rhodesian Field Force. Following the end of this war, he served in Somaliland (1903–1904), India (1905–1909), England (1910–1914) and in France during World War I where he was awarded two brevets, CMG, DSO, Croix de Guerre and eight mentions in dispatches. He rose to the rank of colonel.

Shanghai

After the war, Macnaghten resigned his commission with the honorary rank of brigadier general.

He joined British American Tobacco in Shanghai, China. From 1930 to 1932 he served as Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council. He was also President of the United Services Association and the St Andrew's Society.

Retirement and death

Macnaghten retired to his house Haygates in Finchampstead, Berkshire. He died on 21 November 1948 in the same town.