William Linehan
William Linehan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Linehan (second right) at the signing of the Federation of Malaya agreement in 1948 | |
| Born | 6 August 1892 |
| Died | 19 October 1955 (aged 63) |
| Alma mater | University College, Cork |
| Occupation | Colonial administrative service officer |
| Years active | 1916 to 1955 |
| Children | 3 sons and 1 daughter |
William Linehan CMG (6 August 1892 – 19 October 1955) was a scholar and colonial administrator who served his career in Malaya. He was a member of the committee which drafted the Federation of Malaya agreement which established the Federation of Malaya in 1948.
Early life and education
[edit]Linehan was born in Cork on 6 August 1892, the son of Senator Thomas Lineham. He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Cork and at University College Cork.[1]
Career
[edit]Linhan joined the Malayan civil service as a cadet in 1916 and served in various posts including District Officer, Pekan (1925); acting British Adviser, Kelantan (1931–1933); Assistant Adviser, Johore (1934); and Secretary to the British Resident, Perak (1937).[1]
In 1938, he was appointed Director of Education of the Straits Settlements and Adviser of Education of the Malay States.[2][3] After being interned in Singapore as a POW (1942–1945), he returned to office in 1945 as Director of Education of the Malay States. In 1946, he was appointed constitutional adviser to the government and played a considerable part as a member of the working committee which drafted the Federation of Malaya agreement which established the Federation of Malaya in 1948.[4][5] In 1948, he retired from the Malayan civil service and became Director of Museums of the Federation of Malaya (1949–1951).[1][6][7]
Writer
[edit]In 1955, after returning to England, Linehan was appointed Assistant Director of Research in Oriental Studies at the University of Cambridge. He was one of the best known scholars in Malaya and his work on Malay history, archaeology and language was considerable. In 1938, he was president of the International Congress of Prehistorians of the Far East in Singapore.[8] In addition to his MA, he was awarded a degree of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) by Dublin University.[9] His publications included: The History of Pahang (1936), and numerous papers for the Malaysian branch of Royal Asiatic Society.[1][7]
Personal life and death
[edit]Linehan married Mary O'Sullivan in 1921 and they had three sons and a daughter.[10] He died on 19 October 1955, aged 63, in Dublin.[1][7]
Honours
[edit]Linehan was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1947 New Year Honours.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e A. & C. Black Ltd. (1964). Who was who, 1951-1960 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : Black. p. 664.
- ^ "Malaya's New Schools Chief". Malaya Tribune. 19 November 1938. p. 12.
- ^ "Colonial service". The Times. 11 January 1939. p. 5.
- ^ "Proposals for Federation of Malaya". The Straits Times. 24 December 1946. p. 1.
- ^ "Sultan of Johore Signs Agreement at Istana". Morning Tribune. 22 January 1948. p. 1.
- ^ "Dr. W. Linehan is Museums Director". The Singapore Free Press. 31 January 1949. p. 5.
- ^ a b c "Dr. Linehan dies in Dublin". The Straits Budget. 10 November 1955. p. 9.
- ^ "Far East Prehistorians' Congress". The Straits Budget. 27 January 1938. p. 12.
- ^ "Mr. W. Linehan". Morning Tribune. 31 December 1937. p. 8.
- ^ "Marriages". Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle. 30 December 1921. p. 4.
- ^ "Malayan Education Honours". The Straits Times. 2 January 1947. p. 1.
- ^ "Page 1 | Supplement 37835, 31 December 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-19.