Charles Roberts Howitt

Charles Roberts Howitt CMG
British Adviser, Perlis
In office 1935–1937
Preceded by	Oswald Eric Venables
Succeeded by	Christopher William Dawson
Personal details
Born	5 November 1894 Cumberland
Died	23 December 1969 (aged 75)
Nationality	British
Spouse	E. Vera
Children	2 daughters
Alma mater	Queen's College, Oxford
Occupation	Colonial administrator

Charles Roberts Howitt CMG (5 November 1894 – 23 December 1969) was a British colonial administrator who served in Malaya.

Early life and education

Howitt was born on 5 November 1894 in Cumberland. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School, and Queen's College, Oxford, where in 1920 he received his BA.^[1]

Career

During the First World War, Howitt served with the Royal Fusiliers (1914 – 1916) as second lieutenant, and the Border Regiment (1916 – 1918).^[1]

In 1920, after graduating, he joined the Malay civil service as a cadet, and was posted to Johore where he served as Land Officer (1920), Second Class Magistrate (1921-22), Collector of Land revenue (1922), and Assistant Adviser (1924). From 1925 to 1935, he served in Singapore, Malacca and Penang where he worked in various posts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

From 1935 to 1937, he was British Adviser in Perlis.^[7] In 1938, he was appointed Malayan Establishment Officer, and in 1940, was appointed Under-Secretary of the Straits Settlements. In 1948, he was Acting Chief Secretary and acted as spokesman for the government on the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency. In 1954, he was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Board, Malaya, and three years later served on the Public Services Commission and the Judicial and Legal Commission, Malaya. He retired in 1963.^{[1][8][9][10][11][12][13]}

Personal life

Howitt married E. Vera in 1920, and they had two daughters.^[1]

Honours

Howitt was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1957 Birthday Honours.^[14]

References

1. "Howitt, Charles Roberts, (5 Nov. 1894–23 Dec. 1969), retired from Malaya". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U54679. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
2. "Johore Appointments". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 19 January 1921. p. 6.
3. "Untitled". The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser. 11 May 1922. p. 12.
4. "Gazette Notification". Malacca Guardian. 23 April 1928. p. 11.
5. "Untitled". Malaya Tribune. 28 May 1932. p. 4.
6. "Gazette Notices". Malaya Tribune. 15 December 1934. p. 11.
7. "Untitled". The Straits Times. 30 April 1935. p. 17.
8. "S.S. Appointments". The Straits Budget. 14 April 1938. p. 7.
9. "M.C.S. Officers Promoted". The Singapore Free Press. 2 May 1947. p. 5.
10. "Federal Govt's Anti-Bandit Preparations". The Straits Budget. 7 October 1948. p. 16.
11. "Two key posts for Rahman's elder brother". The Straits Budget. 3 January 1957. p. 16.
12. "War on Malayan Terrorists". Times. 5 November 1948. p. 3.
13. "Obituary". Times. 30 December 1969. p. 8.
14. "The Birthday Honours". Times. 13 June 1957. p. 14.