James Harford

Sir James Dundas Harford was a British diplomat who served as Governor of Saint Helena from 1954 to 1958.

Biography

A direct descendant of John Scandrett Harford of Blaise Castle, he was educated at Repton School and Balliol College, Oxford. Between school and university he enlisted as a second lieutenant in 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment and saw action in France between 1917 and 1918. After a period as a schoolmaster at Eton College from 1922 to 1926, Harford joined the Colonial Administration Service and was posted to Nigeria.
He was subsequently appointed:

Administrator of Antigua and Federal Secretary of the Leeward Islands ;
Administrator of Saint Kitts and Nevis ;
Acting Governor of the Leeward Islands ;
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George ;
To serve in the Colonial Office ;
Colonial Secretary of Mauritius ;
Acting Governor of Mauritius ;
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Saint Helena ;
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Harford Middle School in Saint Helena is named in his honour.
He was married twice:

to Countess Thelma Alberta Louisa Evelyne Metaxà, sister of 9th Count Metaxà, and only daughter of Count Andrea Francis Albert Cochrane Metaxà RNR; 1 son.
to Lilias Madeline, eldest daughter of Major Archibald Campbell AEC; 2 daughters.