Joseph West Ridgeway
Sir Joseph West Ridgeway, was a British civil servant and colonial governor. He was known as "Sir West Ridgeway". He was involved in the sodomy and child molestation charges against Hector Archibald MacDonald, commander of British forces in Ceylon. Ridgeway ordered MacDonald's return to London, careful to prevent the huge scandal that was to be expected: "Some, in fact most of his victims... are the sons of the most respected men in the colony, British as well as locals," he wrote, noting that he was able to convince the local press to hold still so "no more dirt comes to light".
Military career
Educated at St Paul's School, London, Ridgeway was commissioned into the Bengal Infantry in 1860. In 1869 he was selected for civil employment in India. In 1881 he married Carolina Ellen "Lina" Bewicke.Colonial service
In 1884 Ridgeway was given command of the Indian section of the Afghan Boundary Commission, established by Russia and the United Kingdom to determine the northern boundary of Afghanistan. The following year he became Chief Commissioner. He was Under-Secretary for Ireland from 1887 to 1892, and Lieutenant Governor of [the Isle of Man] from 1893 to 1895.He was Governor of Ceylon from 1896 to 1903. During that time, he was involved in bringing charges of sodomy and pederasty against Hector MacDonald, commander of the troops in Ceylon. Ridgeway advised MacDonald to return to London, his main concern being to avoid a massive scandal: "Some, indeed most, of his victims... are the sons of the best-known men in the Colony, English and native", he wrote, noting that he had persuaded the local press to keep quiet in hopes that "no more mud" would be stirred up.
He stood unsuccessfully for election to the House of Commons of [the United Kingdom|House of Commons] as a Liberal, in the City of London in 1906 and in the London University constituency at the January 1910 [United Kingdom general election|election of January 1910].
From 1910 to 1926, he was President of the North Borneo Chartered Company, which controlled the territory of North Borneo.
Honours
- GCMG: Order of [St Michael and St George|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George] – 1 January 1900 – New Year Honours list
- LL.D. , University of Cambridge, May 1902.
- LL.D , University of Edinburgh, 26 July 1902.