The new Governor- One of the Blakes of Galway.
A Surprise to Everybody.
The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld.) 7th November, 1888 p4
The Chief Secretary received a cablegram this morning intimating that Sir Henry Arthur Blake, F.R.G.S., Governor of Newfoundland, had been appointed Governor of Queensland in succession to the late Sir Anthony Musgrave.
The news comes as a surprise to everybody, as Sir Henry Blake’s name has not been mentioned among the probable candidates. The new Governor is, we understand, a member of a well-known family popularly referred to in “society” circles as “the Blakes of Galway,” and therefore a distant relative of Mr. De Burgh Persse, of the Logan district. Sir Henry Blake’s son is at present residing in Brisbane, and as a footballer is well known in athletic and other circles. The new Governor’s official career has been as follows: —
Appointed cadet, Royal Irish Constabulary, February, 1850; appointed sub inspector, Royal Irish Constabulary, March, 1859; appointed resident magistrate, February, 1876; in January, 1882, was one of the five special resident magistrates selected by Government to concert and carry out measures for the pacification of a large portion of Ireland.
Had executive charge of the eastern division, including the counties of King’s, Queen’s, Kildare, Carlow, and Meath, with a population of 356,000. In two years the improvement effected in the state of Ireland rendered the continuance of the special resident magistrates unnecessary; appointed Governor of the Bahamas, January, 1884; appointed Governor of Newfoundland, 1887, and knighted shortly after.
The Burren and Beyond 