Edward Richard Connor CMG (1846-1903) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Commander Edward Richard Connor CMG

Born 11 Feb 1846 in Herne Bay, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Son of Alexander Connor and Naomi (Goulden) Turk

Brother of Mary Helen Connor and Alexander Hawtrey Connor

Husband of Adelaide (Manning) Connor — married 11 Jul 1872 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Father of Mary Ellen Jack (Connor) Holland, Alexander Goulden Connor, Harold Oscar Connor, Muriel Gwendoline Connor, Frederick Gordon Connor and Lillian Enid (Connor) Allan

Died 2 Jan 1903 at age 56 in Glebe, New South Wales, Australia

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Profile last modified 18 Dec 2023 | Created 13 Feb 2020

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Biography

Commander Edward Richard Connor CMG was born on 11th April 1846 in Herne Bay, Kent, England, United Kingdom.^[1] He was the son of Master Mariner, Alexander Connor and his wife, Naomi Goulden. He was educated in Greenwich School.

Edward joined the Royal Navy on 12th March 1861 as a Master's Assistant on HMS Cossack. He went on to serve on Gorgon (May 1862), Fisgard (February 1864), Royal Adelaide (November 1864), Firefly (December 1864) and Hibernia (February 1866) with a promotion to 2nd Master on 28 March 1866. His service continued on Nassau (April 1866). In 1867 he was appointed Navigating Sub Lieutenant with seniority back dated to his appointment as 2nd Master. He served on Clio (August 1869), Fisgard (November 1869) and Pembroke (March 1870). Most of his early career was spent in the hydrographic service surveying in the Channel, in the Mediterranean in the Straits of Magellan and in Queensland (later a State of Australia). There were some more dramatic periods when he spent two years detached service on the East Coast of Africa in the suppression of the slave trade and he was severely wounded in an engagement in Terra de Fuego in South America.

On 11th July 1872, Edward married Adelaide Manning (1854-1943) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.^[2] She was the daughter of Mr. Arthur Wilcox Manning, Principal Under-Secretary in Queensland. They had six children:

Mary Ellen Jack Connor (1875-1958)
Alexander Goulden Connor (1879-1951)
Harold Oscar Connor (1880-1948)
Muriel Gwendoline Mary Connor (1881-1965)
Frederick Gordon Connor (1885-1946)
Lillian Enid Connor (1888-1964)

On 22nd September 1872 he was appointed Navigating Lieutenant. From 1879 he served as commander of the Royal Chartered British North Borneo Company and commanded the Governor's armed yacht. In 1881 he retired from the Company and the Royal Navy.

Edward Connor CMG migrated from England to New South Wales.

In the 1880s Edward migrated to New South Wales (later a State of Australia) and in 1885 joined the New South Wales Colonial Naval Force as a Lieutenant. He was appointed Commander in 1891.

On 8th August 1900, he was second in command of the New South Wales contingent which was sent to China aboard the SS Salamis to join the international forces which had assembled to put down the Boxer Rebellion and lift the siege of the foreign legations in Peking (now Beijing). The contingent arrived in China too late to take part in any real fighting, the siege in Peking having been lifted a week after they left Sydney. It was a big disappointment as the Naval Volunteers had hoped to acquit themselves as well as the army volunteers, who were fighting in South Africa in the Second Boer War. The contingent returned aboard the SS Chingtu, arriving in Sydney on 25th April 1901 they had left a Colony but arrived home to a State, Australia's federation having been proclaimed in the interim. ^[3]

Commander Edward Richard Connor was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his service in China during the Boxer Uprising. ^[4]

He passed away, aged 56 years, on 2nd January 1903 at home in Cook Street, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia,^[5] less than two years after his return from China, and is buried in Rookwood General Cemetery, Rookwood, New South Wales, Australia.^[6] He was survived by his widow and children.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN E. R. CONNOR, C.M.G.

The sudden death of Captain E. B. Connor, CMG., was announced yesterday morning. News was received in the city at on early hour that he had been found dead at his residence in Cook-street, Glebe Point. The intelligence caused quite a shock in naval and business circles, for the late officer, who was most popular, had enjoyed excellent health, and acted as one of the judges at the Highland Gathering sports on Thursday. Upon returning to his home that evening he retired to bed in excellent spirits, and apparently in good health. Next morning his wife found her husband dead in bed. Medical evidence certified that heat apoplexy was the cause of death. Captain Connor was well and favourably known in this city. He had been a draughtsman in the Mines and Agricultural Department since 1884. He was also a popular officer in the naval forces of the State. He leaves a widow, three sons, and three daughters.

The late Captain Edward Richard Connor was born in Kent, in England, in 1848, and had a long and useful career in the Royal Navy to which he be came attached in 1861. Five years later he was appointed sub-lieutenant, and in 1872 received the appointment of full lieutenant. He remained in the navy until 1884 when he retired. During his term of describe engaged in much useful work. From 1864 to 1879 he was in the hydrographic service in the Mediterranean, the Channel, says the Straits of Magellan, and off the Queensland coast. Subsequently he spent two years in the Royal Chartered British North Borneo Company's service, and had command of the Governor's armed yacht.

In 1885 Captain Connor joined, the New South Wales Naval Brigade as a lieutenant, and by degrees he worked himself up to the rank of commander, which appointment he received in 1891, He went to China with the Australian Contingents second in command, and for his services in the East he was awarded the honour of C.M.G. He was most popular with the naval forces, especially with, the China Contingent, During last year in consequence of the reorganisation of the local naval forces, Captain Connor being over the age limit retired on the rank of captain.

It has been decided to accord the late officer a naval funeral, which will take place tomorrow afternoon. The procession will move from the late residence of the deceased at Glebe Point.^[7]

Sources

↑ Birth registration of Edward Connor (b. 1846), "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26PL-ZVG : 1 October 2014), Edward Richard Connor, 1846; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Birth Registration, Blean, Kent, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England.
↑ Marriage registration of Edward Connor and Adelaide Manning (m. 1872), Queensland Births, Deaths, Marriages and Divorces. Marriage registration: Edward Richard Connor Marriage date: 11/07/1872 Spouse's name: Adelaide Manning Registration details: 1872/B/3620
↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Commander Edward Richard Connor, accessed 29 May 2020.
↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Commander Edward Richard Connor CMG, accessed 29 May 2020.
↑ Death registration of Edward Connor (d. 1903), NSW Births Deaths and Marriages. CONNOR EDWARD R Registration number 1547/1903 Father's Given Name(s) ALEXANDER Mother's Given Name(s) NAOMI District GLEBE
↑ Burial of Edward Connor (d. 1903), Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40326722/edward-richard-connor: accessed 20 May 2023), memorial page for Edward Richard Connor (10 Feb 1846–2 Jan 1903), Find a Grave Memorial ID 40326722, citing Rookwood General Cemetery, Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia; Maintained by Mary-Ann (contributor 46963157).
↑ PERSONAL. (1903, January 3). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 9. Retrieved August 25, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14480946

Census

1851 England and Wales Census
"England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGTQ-D4V : 12 September 2019), Edward R Conor in household of Maria Conor, Saint George The Martyr, Surrey, England; citing Saint George The Martyr, Surrey, England, p. 23, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
1861 England and Wales Census
"England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M714-B6N : 12 September 2020), E R Connor, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
1881 England and Wales Census
"England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27W-NV4F : 11 December 2017), Edward R Connor, Herne, Kent, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 15, Piece/Folio 963/74, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,444.

See also:

Connor, Edward Richard (1846–1903), Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, accessed 29 May 2020.

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