Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Medhurst, Walter Henry (1822-1885)
MEDHURST, Sir WALTER HENRY (1822–1885), British consul in China, the son of Dr. Walter Henry Medhurst [q. v.] the missionary, was born in China in 1822, and in October 1840 entered the office of the Chinese secretary to the British superintendency of trade in China. Early in 1841 he was one of a party sent to inspect the newly acquired Hongkong. In August he was attached to Sir Henry Pottinger's suite, and on the renewal of the war was present at the taking of Amoy and Chusan. His knowledge of Chinese attracted the notice of his chief, and from October 1841 to December 1842 he was interpreter to the garrison at Chusan. He received the war medal for his services in this campaign, and was appointed consular interpreter at Shanghai on 7 Oct. 1843, when the ports were first opened for trade under the treaty. From April 1848 till August 1849 he also acted as vice-consul at Amoy. In August 1850 he became Chinese secretary to the superintendent of trade in China, and was also general secretary and registrar from July 1853 to 9 Nov. 1854, when he was appointed consul at Foo-chow-foo. On 21 Dec. 1858 he was transferred to Tang-chow, though he was temporarily employed in the succeeding years both at Foo-chow-foo and Shanghai. When the war broke out in 1861 he again rendered important services to the British troops, and was mentioned in despatches. On 25 Jan. 1864 he became consul at Hankow, and early in 1868 made an energetic stand there in defence of British treaty rights in conjunction with Captain Heneage of the Rodney. On 23 July 1868 he removed to Shanghai to act as consul, and was confirmed on 24 Jan. 1871. On 1 Jan. 1877 he retired, being presented with a testimonial by the Shanghai community, and on 20 March he was knighted. Medhurst was ‘a warrior consul,’ but he was distinguished for his command of the Chinese language, and his success with the natives gave him a special position among his countrymen.
In 1881 Medhurst threw himself heartily into the formation of the British North Borneo Company, and in its interest in 1882 returned to the East to organise a system of emigration from China into the company's territories. Accordingly for eighteen months he resided in Hongkong, where he was a frequent contributor to the local press. Having returned to England in 1884, he died at Torquay on 26 Dec. 1885. He was the author of the ‘Foreigner in Far Cathay,’ London, 1872.
[Foreign Office List, 1885; Times, 30 Dec. 1885; Hongkong Daily Press, 31 Dec. 1885.]