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The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Musgrave, Sir Anthony

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1414287The Dictionary of Australasian Biography — Musgrave, Sir AnthonyPhilip Mennell

Musgrave, Sir Anthony, G.C.M.G., son of Anthony Musgrave, M.D., of Antigua, was Private Secretary to Mr. Mackintosh when Governor-in-Chief of the Leeward Islands, in 1850-51; entered as student at the Inner Temple in 1851; was Treasury Accountant at Antigua in 1852; resumed legal studies at the Temple in 1853, and was appointed Colonial Secretary of Antigua, Feb. 1854; Administrator of the colony of Nevis, Oct. 1860; Administrator of Government of St. Vincent, April 1861; Lieut.-Governor of St. Vincent. May 1862; Governor of Newfoundland, April 1864; Governor of British Columbia, June 1869; Lieut-Governor of Natal, May 1872; and Governor of South Australia in June 1873. This post he held in remarkably quiet times till Jan. 1877, when he left the colony to assume the Governorship of Jamaica, where he remained till 1883. In that year he was transferred to Queensland, where he assumed office in November. In 1888 he became involved in a dispute with the Premier, Sir Thomas McIlwraith, in regard to the exercise of the prerogative of pardon, and in the result his views were not sustained by the Colonial Office. Sir Anthony, who died at Brisbane whilst still Governor, on Oct. 9th, 1888, married first, in 1854, Christiana Elizabeth, daughter of Hon. Sir William Byam, of Antigua, who died in 1859; and, secondly, in 1870, Jeanie Lucinda, daughter of David Dudley Field, of Gramercy Park, New York. He was created C.M.G. in 1871, K.C.M.G. in 1875, and G.C.M.G. in 1885.