Edward John Harding was born in 1880 in Weeley, Essex. He was the son of John and Laura Harding, his father being a vicar. Although born in Essex, the family, consisting of Edward, his parents and his older sisters Eleanor and Evelyn, moved early in his life to Beckenham where his father became the parish vicar.[3] He was educated first at a private preparatory school, the Abbey School in Beckenham, from 1889 to 1893. He then had a brief period at a school in Margate and from 1895 was educated at Dulwich College.[4] From Dulwich he gained a scholarship to study at Hertford College, Oxford.[5]
Diplomatic careeredit
Harding was a career diplomat. He became Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Natural Resources, Trade and Legislation of Certain Portions of His Majesty's Dominions in December 1912 and accompanied the commission on all of its overseas visits: Australia and New Zealand (1913), South Africa (1914) and Canada (1914 and 1916).[6] The long, informal letters he wrote to members of his family during these visits constituted a diary and are held as the "Dominions Royal Commission diary letters" by Cambridge University Library (Royal Commonwealth Society Library).
In 1925, he became both the Deputy Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs and Assistant Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs. He then became the Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs in 1930, where he served until 1939. His Assistant Undersecretary was Sir Harry Batterbee, who was married to Harding's sister.[7] Batterbee in 1939 became the British High Commissioner to New Zealand.[8] After leaving the Dominions Office Harding was appointed the British High Commissioner to South Africa in which capacity he served from 1940 until 1941.
Later lifeedit
He died at Guildford on 4 October 1954, at the age of 74.[5]
^"Obituary: Sir Edward Harding". The Times. 5 October 1954. p. 11.
^Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK, Class: RG12; Piece: 625; Folio 86; Page 34; GSU roll: 6095735.
^Edward John Harding, Stephen Constantine, Dominions diary: the letters of E.J. Harding, 1913-1916, 1992 (Ryburn archive editions), (Ryburn)
^ abObituary – Sir Edward Harding, 1954, The Law Journal, Volume 104 (E.B. Ince)
^Cambridge University Library: Royal Commonwealth Society Library, Dominions Royal Commission diary letters, RCMS 17
^Sir George Edward Gordon Catlin, For God's sake, go!: an autobiography page 30, (Publisher:Smythe), 1972
edward, john, harding, gcmg, march, 1880, october, 1954, prominent, british, civil, servant, diplomat, former, high, commissioner, south, africa, contents, early, life, diplomatic, career, later, life, also, referencesearly, life, edit, born, 1880, weeley, ess. Sir Edward John Harding GCMG KCB 22 March 1880 1 4 October 1954 was a prominent British civil servant and diplomat and former High Commissioner to South Africa 2 Contents 1 Early life 2 Diplomatic career 3 Later life 4 See also 5 ReferencesEarly life editEdward John Harding was born in 1880 in Weeley Essex He was the son of John and Laura Harding his father being a vicar Although born in Essex the family consisting of Edward his parents and his older sisters Eleanor and Evelyn moved early in his life to Beckenham where his father became the parish vicar 3 He was educated first at a private preparatory school the Abbey School in Beckenham from 1889 to 1893 He then had a brief period at a school in Margate and from 1895 was educated at Dulwich College 4 From Dulwich he gained a scholarship to study at Hertford College Oxford 5 Diplomatic career editHarding was a career diplomat He became Secretary of the Royal Commission on the Natural Resources Trade and Legislation of Certain Portions of His Majesty s Dominions in December 1912 and accompanied the commission on all of its overseas visits Australia and New Zealand 1913 South Africa 1914 and Canada 1914 and 1916 6 The long informal letters he wrote to members of his family during these visits constituted a diary and are held as the Dominions Royal Commission diary letters by Cambridge University Library Royal Commonwealth Society Library In 1925 he became both the Deputy Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs and Assistant Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs He then became the Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs in 1930 where he served until 1939 His Assistant Undersecretary was Sir Harry Batterbee who was married to Harding s sister 7 Batterbee in 1939 became the British High Commissioner to New Zealand 8 After leaving the Dominions Office Harding was appointed the British High Commissioner to South Africa in which capacity he served from 1940 until 1941 Later life editHe died at Guildford on 4 October 1954 at the age of 74 5 See also editList of high commissioners of the United Kingdom to South AfricaReferences edit Burke Sir Bernard ed 1939 Burke s Peerage Baronetage amp Knighthood 97th ed Burke s Peerage amp Gentry p 2797 Obituary Sir Edward Harding The Times 5 October 1954 p 11 Census Returns of England and Wales 1891 Kew Surrey England The National Archives of the UK Class RG12 Piece 625 Folio 86 Page 34 GSU roll 6095735 Edward John Harding Stephen Constantine Dominions diary the letters of E J Harding 1913 1916 1992 Ryburn archive editions Ryburn a b Obituary Sir Edward Harding 1954 The Law Journal Volume 104 E B Ince Cambridge University Library Royal Commonwealth Society Library Dominions Royal Commission diary letters RCMS 17 Sir George Edward Gordon Catlin For God s sake go an autobiography page 30 Publisher Smythe 1972 Nicholas Mansergh Survey of British Commonwealth affairs problems of wartime co operation and post war change 1939 1952 1968 Routledge ISBN 0 7146 1496 3 ISBN 978 0 7146 1496 0 Government officesPreceded bySir Charles Davis Permanent Undersecretary of State for Dominion Affairs1930 1939 October Succeeded bySir Eric Machtig acting Diplomatic postsPreceded byWilliam Henry Clark British High Commissioner to South Africa1940 1941 Succeeded byWilliam Ormsby Gore 4th Baron Harlech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward John Harding amp oldid 1189944598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
