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Robert Norman Bland | |
|---|---|
| Resident Councillor, Penang | |
| In office 1907–1910 | |
| Preceded by | James Kortright Birch |
| Succeeded by | James Oliver Anthonisz |
| Majority | British |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 October 1859 Malta |
| Died | 30 March 1948 (aged 88) Sussex, England |
| Spouse | Laura Emily Shelford |
| Relations | Father: Major-General Edward Loftus Bland (b. 10 December 1829, d. 26 February 1923). Brothers: John Otway Percy Bland, Brig.-Gen. Edward Humphrey Bland+(b. 3 May 1866, d. 15 Feb 1945), Brig.-Gen. William St. Colum Bland (b. 6 Jun 1868, d. 9 Feb 1950) Thomas Bland (b. 7 Jan 1876, d. 15 Aug 1900) and Lieutenant Charles Loftus Bland (b. 21 Oct 1881, d. 6 Jan 1973). Sisters: Mary Bland (b. 1862, d. 1945), Alice Rosalie Henrietta Bland (b. 1870, d. 20 Nov 1962), and Sydney Frances Josephine Bland (b. 11 May 1883). |
| Children | Evelyn Bland, Major Thomas Edward Bland (b. 24 Feb 1903, d. 1 Aug 1944) and Robert Lawrence St. Colum Bland (b. 1905, d. 26 Jan 1907) |
| Residence(s) | Government House, Penang also known as The Residency |
| Occupation | British Colonial Official |
Robert Norman Bland CMG (1859–1948), or "R. N. Bland," as he was more commonly known then in The Straits, was Resident Councillor of Penang and a career civil servant in the Colonial Administration of the Straits Settlements.
Bland joined the Colonial Civil Service of the Straits Settlements as a Cadet in 1883, learning Chinese and Malay languages, and later Law, and spent 27 years working his way up the Civil Service ladder through various different roles and positions, often holding multiple positions at the same time, retiring in 1910 as Resident Councillor of Penang. Brief biographies are given of him in Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya One Hundred Years of Singapore, Who's Who in the Far East, Burke's Irish Family Records and other works. The ones from the first two, read:[1][2][3]
"The Resident Councillor of Pinang: is the Hon. Mr. Robert Norman Bland, B.A. A son of Major-General Bland, R.E., he was born at Malta in 1859. He was educated at Cheltenham College and at Trinity College, Dublin, where he obtained the degree of B.A. in 1882.[2]
Mr. Bland has had a long and varied career in the Straits Settlements Civil Service. Arriving in the colony early in 1883, he was attached to the Colonial Secretary's Office as a cadet learning Chinese, and in the following year he also qualified in Malay.[2]
He has served as private secretary to the Acting Governor, Collector and Magistrate at Kuala Pilah in the Negri Sambilan, Assistant Resident Councillor at Pinang, Collector of Land Revenue at Pinang and Singapore, officer in charge of Sungei Ujong, Inspector of Prisons for the Straits Settlements, Colonial Treasurer and Collector of Stamp Duties, and Resident Councillor at Malacca.[2]
In 1887 he was engaged in reporting upon a system of Mukim boundaries in Pinang and Province Wellesley.[2]
He is ex-officio Chairman of the Pinang Committee of the Tanjong Pagar Board, of the District Hospital, of the Library, and of the Gardens Committee, Pinang; a trustee of St. George's Church and of St. George's Girls' School; and president of the Free School's Committee.[2]
Mr. Bland raised and commanded a company of volunteers in Malacca.(1902-6).[2]
He is a member of the Colonial Institute and of the Sports Club, London, and is enrolled either as a patron or member of all the local clubs. His recreations are golf and riding.[2]
He married, in 1895, Laura Emily, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Shelford, C.M.G., head of the firm of Paterson, Simons Co., and for some twenty years member of the Legislative Council of the Straits Settlements. Mrs. Bland is a member of the Straits branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and of the Royal Anthropological Institute. She takes a keen interest in women's work amongst the Malays."[2] "Mr. R. N. Bland, C.M.G. Mr. Robert Norman Bland was appointed a Cadet in the Straits service in 1882. He held various offices in the three Settlements, and was also in charge of Sungei Ujong and Jelebu from 1893 to 1895. He became Colonial Treasurer in 1904, and was successively Resident Councillor, Malacca, from 1904 to 1907, and of Penang from 1907 to 1910, when he retired. He became a C.M.G. in the latter year. He is the author of the illustrated work Historical Tombstones of Malacca, which has done much to preserve the records of monuments of the past, otherwise only too likely to perish, and he was a frequent contributor to the Royal Asiatic Society's Journal."[3]
The sometimes contradictory accounts of the dates or periods he held these positions for, is due to two practices at that time. Firstly, holding multiple positions at the same time (a substantive role, together with other less substantive, temporary or acting roles). And second, being appointed to a role (substantive) but not functioning in that role, while someone else acts in that role or performs that function temporarily. These practices can be seen from the details provided below in the accounts of his appointments in the Straits Settlements and F.M.S. civil service.
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- ^ Who's Who in the Far East, 1906-7, June. Hongkong: China Mail, 1906: 22. Print.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Wright, Arnold. Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya: its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. London: Lloyd's Greater Britain Publishing Company, Limited: 126. Print.
- ^ a b Nunn, Bernard. "Some Account of Our Governors and Civil Service." One Hundred Years of Singapore, Being Some Account of the Capital of the Straits Settlements from Its Foundation by Sir Stamford Raffles on 6 February 1819 to 6 February 1919. Ed. Walter Makepeace, Gilbert E. Brroke, and Ronald St. John Braddell. Vol. I (1). London: John Murray, 1911. [140] 69-148. Print.