Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 129

Sold by Order of a Direct Descendant

'Frederick [McNair], was arguably Singapore’s most important architect of the latter 19th century.'

The Library of Singapore, refers.

The C.M.G. pair awarded to Major J. F. A. McNair, Royal Artillery, also a long-served Colonial Civil Servant, Executive Engineer & Superintendent of Convicts in the Straits Settlements, he was called as Chief Commissioner inquiring into the complicity of the Chiefs of Perak after the 1875-76 War

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast Badge, gold and enamel, with swivel ring and straight bar suspension, complete with gold buckle on ribbon; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Perak (Major McNair. R.A. Colonial Engineer.), with silver riband buckle, minor official correction to posting, very fine (2)

C.M.G. London Gazette 24 May 1879.

John Frederick Adolphus McNair was born on 23 October 1828 at Bath and was educated at King's College, London and at the School of Mines. He went out to India in 1846 to take up employment with the British East India Company at Madras, becoming fluent in Hindustani. From Madras, McNair was transferred to Malacca, reporting to J. B. Westerhout, then the advisor to the Government of the Straits Settlements.

He was then posted to Singapore as Adjutant of the Straights Settlements Artillery and where he took up an appointment as Private Secretary and Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Straits Settlements. In 1857, McNair was appointed Executive Engineer and Superintendent of Convicts in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) and he was also in responsible for Public Works and the Oriental Gaol in Singapore.

McNair shared in the Commission for the Pacification of Larut in Perak and latterly during the 1875-76 War at that place, following the murder of J. W. W. Birch.

Having taken his C.M.G. in 1879, by 1882 he was Acting Resident Councillor to the Governor of Penang, with McNair Street in George Town named after him. Besides undertaking several expeditions to Siam (Thailand) in 1868, 1874, 1875 and 1878, and forging a keen friendship with the King, he was bestowed with the Order of the White Elephant.

In Singapore himself, he oversaw the construction of St Andrew’s Cathedral, designed the former Empress Place Building (Asian Civilisations Museum) and Government House (Istana), and made alterations to the Old Parliament House (The Arts House).

As a final note, Sir Andrew Clarke started the title "Empress of India," for Queen Victoria and asked McNair to translate this. Of the several versions he provided, "Kaisar-i-Hind" was selected and officially used for the first time in Sir Andrew's proclamation, which was at once sent home to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Earl of Carnavon.

He married firstly Sarah Desgranges Paine in 1849. They had seven children. He married secondly Madalena Williamson, née Vallance. The good Major died on 17 May 1910; sold together with a copy of Prisoners Their Own Warders.

For his Thai Orders of the Elephant, please see the next two Lots.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£1,800 to £2,200

Starting price
£1400