William Linehan
William Linehan CMG was a scholar and colonial administrator who served his career in Malaya. He was a member of the committee which drafted the Federation of Malaya agreement which established the Federation of Malaya in 1948.
Early life and education
Linehan was born in Cork on 6 August 1892, the son of Senator Thomas Linehan. He was educated at Christian [Brothers College, Cork] and at University College Cork.Career
Linhan joined the Malayan civil service as a cadet in 1916 and served in various posts including District Officer, Pekan ; acting British Adviser, Kelantan ; Assistant Adviser, Johore ; and Secretary to the British Resident, Perak.In 1938, he was appointed Director of Education of the Straits Settlements and Adviser of Education of the Malay States. After being interned in Singapore as a POW, he returned to office in 1945 as Director of Education of the Malay States. In 1946, he was appointed constitutional adviser to the government and played a considerable part as a member of the working committee which drafted the Federation of Malaya agreement which established the Federation of Malaya in 1948. In 1948, he retired from the Malayan civil service and became Director of Museums of the Federation of Malaya.