56:
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In 1872, Thurston approached the
British government, at Cakobau's request, with an offer to cede the islands to the United Kingdom. (A previous offer almost two decades earlier had been turned down). The British were much more inclined to annexe Fiji now than they had been previously. The murder of
445:
Thurston was born on 31 January 1836 in London, England, where he received an elementary education before pursuing a nautical career in 1850. In 1855 he became the first officer, but shortly afterwards was struck down by cholera and was sent to
Australia to recover. He became a sheep farmer with a
565:
He married, first, about 1866, a French lady, Madame Marie de
Lavalatte (died 14 December 1881); secondly, on 14 January 1883, Amelia, daughter of John Berry of Albury, New South Wales, who, with three sons and two daughters, survived him. The British government granted Lady Thurston a civil list
515:
Two
British commissioners were sent to Fiji to investigate the possibility of an annexation. The negotiations were concluded with Thurston himself acting as Premier, from 23 March to 10 October 1874, when Cakobau and his fellow-chiefs formally ceded the archipelago to the United Kingdom.
491:
and legislature dominated by settlers. The arrangement was not particularly successful. Within months, government overspending had led to the accumulation of an unmanageable debt which led to economic and social unrest.
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pension in consideration of her husband's services, and the government of Fiji a pension of 50l. to each of the five children during minority.
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In 1895 Thurston's health gave way, and he returned to
England on leave. Returning to his post in 1896, he died at sea on S.S.
520:
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had provoked public outrage, which was compounded by the massacre by crew members of more than 150 Fijians on board the brig
925:
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Shortly after his arrival in Fiji, he was employed by the
British Consulate. In 1869 he became acting Consul for Fiji and
523:
to extend its operations into Fiji by providing it with 2,000 acres (8.1 km) of land to establish its plantations.
479:
and the
British settlers. He persuaded the Fijian chiefs to surrender the independence of their fiefdoms and accept a
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in 1880, and Knight
Commander of that same order in 1887; he was a fellow of the Linnean and Geographical societies.
578:
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In June 1871, Thurston, then
Britain's honorary consul, forged a "marriage of convenience" between the
369:
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friend, but in 1862 the farm was destroyed by a flood. In 1864, he joined a botany expedition to the
1034:
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908:
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and his grave site has its upkeep paid by the Fijian
Government. He was appointed Companion of the
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Thurston was also responsible for the establishment of Suva Botanical Gardens, later named
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7 February 1897, between Sydney and Melbourne. Sir John Bates Thurston is buried in
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Thurston later served as Colonial Secretary. In this capacity, he persuaded the
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433:(before the islands were ceded to the United Kingdom) and later as
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1879 Thurston became the secretary to the High Commissioner.
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358:
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Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
32:
533:, a position he held until he died on 7 February 1897.
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Sable three bugle horns stringed Or garnished Azure.
387:
Madame Marie de Lavalatte c.1866 – 14 December 1881
421:(31 January 1836 – 7 February 1897) was a British
693:New York Times – article on John Thurston's Death
1001:
634:Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)
813:
391:14 January 1883 – 7 February 1897 (his death)
714:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
698:Probert Encyclopedia on John Bates Thurston
1050:High commissioners for the Western Pacific
820:
806:
590:
536:
54:
1065:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society
768:High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
457:
226:High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
185:21 January 1885 – 1 January 1887
132:21 January 1885 – 1 January 1887
120:High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
19:For other people with similar names, see
660:Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954)
556:
487:, but with real power in the hands of a
81:23 March 1874 – 10 October 1874
1002:
429:in a variety of capacities, including
1075:Burials at Melbourne General Cemetery
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801:
16:British colonial official (1836-1897)
585:Coat of arms of John Bates Thurston
13:
529:In February 1888, Thurston became
14:
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579:Order of St Michael and St George
450:and was wrecked off the coast of
988:
711:Dictionary of National Biography
552:
545:in his honour. Thurston's Palm (
682:BURKE'S PEERAGE COLONIAL GENTRY
521:Colonial Sugar Refining Company
737:Premier of the Kingdom of Viti
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648:
622:
431:Premier of the Kingdom of Viti
69:Premier of the Kingdom of Viti
1:
779:George Thomas Michael O'Brien
662:. 10 February 1897. p. 4
616:
500:of the Melanesian Mission at
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1070:Colonial Secretaries of Fiji
705:"Thurston, John Bates"
636:. 16 January 1882. p. 1
602:A stork Argent legged Azure
7:
10:
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575:Melbourne General Cemetery
370:Melbourne General Cemetery
18:
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113:none (position abolished)
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1055:Politicians from Levuka
1030:Politicians from London
537:Botanical contributions
481:constitutional monarchy
410:Sir John Bates Thurston
1080:People who died at sea
562:
549:) is named after him.
547:Pritchardia thurstonii
458:Political life in Fiji
344:London, United Kingdom
1060:Politicians from Suva
1045:Diplomats from London
561:Amelia, Lady Thurston
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498:Bishop John Patteson
477:Seru Epenisa Cakobau
425:official who served
312:Sir Charles Mitchell
259:Sir Charles Mitchell
218:Sir Charles Mitchell
206:Sir William Des Vœux
165:Sir Charles Mitchell
153:Sir William Des Vœux
90:Seru Epenisa Cakobau
752:Government offices
730:George Austin Woods
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399:3 sons, 2 daughters
102:George Austin Woods
37:John Bates Thurston
722:Political offices
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324:Sir George O'Brien
271:Sir George O'Brien
1020:Governors of Fiji
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829:Governors of Fiji
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775:Succeeded by
746:office abolished
656:"News of the Day"
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448:South Sea Islands
435:colonial Governor
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1035:Premiers of Viti
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788:Governor of Fiji
761:Charles Mitchell
757:Preceded by
727:Preceded by
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630:"Family Notices"
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543:Thurston Gardens
531:Governor of Fiji
483:with Cakobau as
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334:Personal details
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279:Governor of Fiji
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173:Governor of Fiji
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1040:British sailors
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904:Hunter-Rodwell
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485:acclaimed King
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356:(aged 61)
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553:Personal life
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366:Resting place
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21:John Thurston
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899:Sweet-Escott
886:
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681:
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664:. Retrieved
659:
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638:. Retrieved
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564:
540:
528:
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518:
514:
506:Reef Islands
494:
468:
461:
444:
409:
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389:Amelia Berry
354:(1897-02-07)
319:Succeeded by
286:
266:Succeeded by
233:
213:Succeeded by
180:
160:Succeeded by
127:
109:Succeeded by
76:
25:
1015:1897 deaths
1010:1836 births
376:Citizenship
307:Preceded by
254:Preceded by
201:Preceded by
171:Acting
148:Preceded by
118:Acting
97:Preceded by
67:Acting
1004:Categories
792:1888–1897
772:1888–1897
617:References
605:Escutcheon
571:Burrumbeet
441:Early life
871:Allardyce
739:(acting)
384:Spouse(s)
291:1888–1897
287:In office
238:1888–1897
234:In office
181:In office
128:In office
77:In office
970:Maddocks
960:Freeston
955:Grantham
936:Mitchell
926:Richards
914:Fletcher
882:im Thurn
860:Thurston
855:Mitchell
850:Des Vœux
840:Robinson
666:19 March
640:19 March
423:colonial
396:Children
300:Victoria
277:5th
247:Victoria
224:4th
194:Victoria
141:Victoria
975:Jakeway
942:Rankine
877:Jackson
865:O'Brien
684:. 1895.
504:in the
489:cabinet
379:British
296:Monarch
243:Monarch
190:Monarch
137:Monarch
86:Monarch
980:Foster
965:Garvey
949:Nicoll
920:Barton
909:Hutson
845:Gordon
502:Nukapu
361:, Fiji
888:Major
742:1874
599:Crest
474:chief
471:Bauan
464:Tonga
452:Samoa
416:
44:
931:Luke
777:Sir
759:Sir
668:2020
642:2020
510:Carl
427:Fiji
418:FRGS
414:KCMG
359:Suva
349:Died
339:Born
46:FRGS
42:KCMG
894:May
33:Sir
1006::
708:.
658:.
632:.
512:.
466:.
437:.
821:e
814:t
807:v
670:.
644:.
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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