Maurice Simon

Maurice Simon (19 July 1892 – 24 December 1960) was a Belgian colonial administrator.

Early years

Maurice Simon was born on 19 July 1892 in Saint-Gilles, Belgium. His education was interrupted by the start of World War I. He served in the army and was awarded the Croix de Guerre with palm, the Yser Medal, knighthood of the Legion of Honour (military title), Commemorative Medal of the 1914–1918 War, Victory Medal 1914–1918, knighthood of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) (military title). At the end of the war, he was a "lieutenant au 25e régiment de ligne". In 1928, he was named "Capitaine". After the war, he graduated in commercial and consular science.

Colonial career

At 32, Simon became a territorial administrator in the 1st class of the Basakata territory of Equateur Province in the Belgian Congo.

After seven years, he was given charge of the Lac Léopold II District. In 1931, he was transferred to Ruanda as a deputy resident at a time when the governor Charles Voisin was preparing to depose the Mwami (King) Musinga. Simon was involved in the enthronement of the successor, Mwami Mutara. In 1937, he was transferred to Kivu Province and, from there, was assigned to Usumbura as the provincial commissioner of Ruanda-Urundi.

In 1947, Simon was made governor of Ruanda-Urundi. He signed various ordinances protecting the forests and wildlife. The United Nations Trusteeship Council held its third session at Lake Success, New York, from 16 June to 5 August 1948. It reviewed the Belgian report on Ruanda-Urundi. Simon attended as Belgium's representative and responded to questions about the report and the administration of the territory. Simon toured Shangugu in 1949 and noted that the land which should have been developed for coffee plantations was still vacant. He wrote,

In 1949, Léo Pétillon succeeded Simon, and in October 1949, was designated secretary-general of the Belgian Congo, based in Léopoldville. He died on 24 December 1960 in Uccle, Belgium. He was the Commander of the Order of Leopold II and the Royal Order of the Lion.