# James Stewart Lockhart

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British colonial official (1858-1937)

Sir James Stewart Lockhart Registrar-General of Hong Kong In office 1887–1901 Preceded by Frederick Stewart Succeeded by Arthur Winbolt Brewin Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong In office 1895–1902 Preceded by George O'Brien Succeeded by Francis Henry May Commissioner of Weihaiwei In office 1902–1921 Preceded by John Dodson Daintree Succeeded by Arthur Powlett Blunt Personal details Born 25 May 1858 Ardsheal, Argyllshire, Scotland Died 26 February 1937(1937-02-26) (aged 78) London, England Profession Civil administrator, Sinologist

**Sir James Haldane Stewart Lockhart**,[a] [KCMG](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_St_Michael_and_St_George) (25 May 1858 – 26 February 1937) was a British colonial official in [Hong Kong](/source/British_Hong_Kong) and [China](/source/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%9349)) for more than 40 years. He also served as Commissioner of [British Weihaiwei](/source/Weihaiwei_under_British_rule) from 1902 to 1921. Additionally, he was a [Sinologist](/source/Sinologist) who made pioneering translations.

## Early life

Born as James Haldane Lockhart in [Ardsheal](/source/Ardsheal), [Argyllshire](/source/Argyllshire), Scotland, his parents were Anna Rebecca Charlotte (Stewart) and Miles Lockhart of [Lismore, Argyll](/source/Lismore%2C_Argyll).[3] His grandfather was banker [James Lockhart](/source/James_Lockhart_(banker)). He attended [King William's College](/source/King_William's_College) (1868–72), [George Watson's College](/source/George_Watson's_College), and the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh), and attempted to enter the civil service in [India](/source/British_India).[4] Failing to do that, Lockhart took a [Colonial Service](/source/Colonial_Service) cadetship in [Hong Kong](/source/British_Hong_Kong) in 1878.[5]

## Colonial service in Hong Kong

After joining the Hong Kong Government in 1882, Lockhart rose through the ranks of Hong Kong's civil service. He was [Registrar General](/source/Registrar_General) and [Colonial Secretary](/source/Chief_Secretary_for_Administration) of Hong Kong, and later became [Commissioner of Weihaiwei](/source/Commissioner_of_Weihaiwei) (1902[6]–1927), the British coastal [enclave](/source/Enclave) returned to [China](/source/Republic_of_China_(1912%E2%80%9349)) in 1930. He had a more positive relationship with Hong Kong Chinese due to this knowledge of [Cantonese](/source/Cantonese) and was friends with [Ho Kai](/source/Ho_Kai).[7] Lockhart was made a member of the Hong Kong [Legislative](/source/Legislative_Council_of_Hong_Kong) and [Executive Councils](/source/Executive_Council_of_Hong_Kong).

Lockhart drafted the first English-language report on the [New Territories](/source/New_Territories) after London's acquisition in 1898. He argued that the prevalent Chinese communal culture and organization would serve as a stabilizing force in the colony.[8] Lockhart's preference for indirect and indigenized rule was a main factor leading to the official recognition of Chinese community organizations like [Tung Wah Hospital](/source/Tung_Wah_Group_of_Hospitals) and [Po Leung Kuk](/source/Po_Leung_Kuk).[9]

He founded the [Hong Kong Football Club](/source/Hong_Kong_Football_Club) in 1886, situated within the [Happy Valley Racecourse](/source/Happy_Valley_Racecourse). The club now plays host to the Hong Kong 10s rugby tournament.[10]

In his many years in [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) he became a sinophile and a convinced [Confucianist](/source/Confucianism).[11] His resulting contention that only a hard-line Chinese-style Confucian administration would be understood or respected, and his hard-line response to local resistance in the 1899 takeover of the new territories, has been proposed as one of the main causes of the [Six-Day War](/source/Six-Day_War_(1899)) that lead to the deaths of over 500 [punti](/source/Punti) clansmen.[12]

## Sinological service

While they were both training in Hong Kong, Lockhart became friends with [Reginald Johnston](/source/Reginald_Johnston), who made his reputation while serving in [Weihaiwei](/source/Weihaiwei). Both men devoted great energy to their studies of Chinese language and classical literature, and both published scholarly works. Johnston was also a great emotional support to Lockhart and his family. [13]

Johnston later wrote that, as Lockhart had had a sound training in Greek and Latin at [Edinburgh University](/source/University_of_Edinburgh), he took easily to the study of Chinese, another classical language. *[The China Review](/source/The_China_Review)*, a journal for scholarly work by China coast foreigners, published Lockhart's early work, which mainly concerned linguistic questions. Lockhart was fluent in Cantonese, Johnston reported, and acquired a working knowledge of Mandarin when he was posted to Weihaiwei.[14]

## Numismatics and art collecting

Lockhart was particularly interested in collecting and studying Chinese coins, and he produced several publications on [numismatics](/source/Numismatics).[15][16] He also made a thorough study of Chinese art and literature, and formed a large collection of paintings, ink rubbings and decorative arts, some of which was displayed in 1928.[17]

The collection was donated by his daughter, [Betty Joel](/source/Betty_Joel), to his *alma mater*, [George Watson's College](/source/George_Watson's_College), and is currently on a long-term loan to the [National Museum of Scotland](/source/National_Museum_of_Scotland). Lockhart's Chinese books were purchased by [Cambridge University Library](/source/Cambridge_University_Library); his photographs are on loan to the [Scottish National Portrait Gallery](/source/Scottish_National_Portrait_Gallery).

## Later life

After retiring from the Colonial Service, Lockhart returned to Britain. He became an honorary member of the [Royal Asiatic Society](/source/Royal_Asiatic_Society) and member of the [School of Oriental Studies](/source/School_of_Oriental_Studies) at the [University of London](/source/University_of_London).[18]

## Honours and legacy

His appointment of CMG was signed by Queen Victoria on 21 May 1898, while his appointment of KCMG was signed by King Edward VII on 9 November 1908.[19] He received an honorary LLD degree from the [University of Hong Kong](/source/University_of_Hong_Kong) in 1918.

[Lockhart Road](/source/Lockhart_Road) in [Wan Chai](/source/Wan_Chai), [Hong Kong Island](/source/Hong_Kong_Island), is named after him.

## Family

In 1889, Lockhart married Edith Louise Rider Hancock. They had one son and two daughters: Charles, Mary (known by her married and professional name [Betty Joel](/source/Betty_Joel)), and Margaret.[20] He returned with his family to England in 1927 and died in London in 1937.[21]

## Notes

**Footnotes**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Born **James Haldane Lockhart**, he added the name of his mother's family, Stewart of Lorne, as a double surname when he married in 1889.[1] His preferred name was **James Stewart Lockhart** for most of his working life.[2]

**Citations**

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Tsang, Steve (2007). *Governing Hong Kong*. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 199; [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781845115258](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781845115258).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Airlie, Shiona (2010) [1989]. *Thistle and Bamboo: The Life and Times of Sir James Stewart Lockhart*. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. p. 210; [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9789888028924](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789888028924).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Ardsheal House, Appin - Joe Rock's Research Pages"](https://sites.google.com/site/joerocksresearchpages/home/historical-timelines/ardsheal-house-appin).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Hong Kong Journals Online"](http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4401231.pdf) (PDF).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** R. F. Johnston, "James H. Stewart Lockhart, (Obituary Notice)," *The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland*No. 2 (Apr., 1937), pp. 391-393 [\[1\]](https://www.jstor.org/pss/25201540).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["No. 27403"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27403/page/709). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)*. 4 February 1902. p. 709.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Hong Kong Journals Online"](http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4401231.pdf) (PDF).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Hayes, J. W. (1962). "The Pattern of Life in the New Territories in 1898". *[Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society](/source/Journal_of_the_Hong_Kong_Branch_of_the_Royal_Asiatic_Society)*. **2**: 75. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0085-5774](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0085-5774).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Lethbridge, H. J. (1971). "The District Watch Committee: 'The Chinese Executive Council of Hong Kong'". *[Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society](/source/Journal_of_the_Hong_Kong_Branch_of_the_Royal_Asiatic_Society)*. **11**: 129. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0085-5774](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0085-5774).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["HKFC"](http://www.oocities.org/hkrugby/history.htm).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Stevenson, Sara (26 April 2011). ["The Empire Looks Back: Subverting the Imperial Gaze"](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03087298.2011.560454). *History of Photography*. **35** (2): 142–156. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/03087298.2011.560454](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F03087298.2011.560454). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0308-7298](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0308-7298).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Hase, Patrick H. (2008). [*The Six-Day War of 1899: Hong Kong in the Age of Imperialism*](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1xwbjg). Hong Kong University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-962-209-899-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-962-209-899-2).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAirlie1989[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidrUOmAAAAQBAJqJohnstonWeihaiwei_128-129]_14-0)** [Airlie (1989)](#CITEREFAirlie1989), pp. [128-129](https://books.google.com/books?id=rUOmAAAAQBAJ&q=Johnston+Weihaiwei).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTELethbridge1978146_15-0)** [Lethbridge (1978)](#CITEREFLethbridge1978), p. 146.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAirlie1989[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidrUOmAAAAQBAJqnumismatics_72]_16-0)** [Airlie (1989)](#CITEREFAirlie1989), p. [72](https://books.google.com/books?id=rUOmAAAAQBAJ&q=numismatics).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEWhite1976_17-0)** [White (1976)](#CITEREFWhite1976).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** R. F. Johnston, "James H. Stewart Lockhart, (Obituary Notice)," *The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland*No. 2 (Apr., 1937), pp. 391-393 [\[2\]](https://www.jstor.org/pss/25201540).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Hong Kong Journals Online"](http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/44/4401231.pdf) (PDF).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** National Library of Scotland. ["Inventory Acc.4138 Papers of Sir James Haldane Stewart Lockhart, K.C.M.G. (1858–1947)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110605050308/http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/acc4138.pdf) (PDF). nls.uk. Archived from [the original](http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/acc4138.pdf) (PDF) on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAirlie1989[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidrUOmAAAAQBAJqEdithlouise_59]_21-0)** [Airlie (1989)](#CITEREFAirlie1989), p. [59](https://books.google.com/books?id=rUOmAAAAQBAJ&q=Edith+louise).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Johnston, "Obituary."

## Selected publications

- Lockhart, James H. Stewart (1893). *[A Manual of Chinese Quotations, Being a Translation of the Ch'êng Yü K'ao](https://archive.org/details/manualofchineseq00qiuj)*. Hong Kong: Kelly & Walsh.

- Lockhart, James H. Stewart (1915). *The Stewart Lockhart Collection of Chinese Copper Coins*. Shanghai etc.: Kelly & Walsh, limited.

- Fraser, Everard Duncan Home, Ming Tso-ch*°u and James H. Stewart Lockhart (1930). *Index to the Tso Chuan*. London, New York: Oxford university press H. Milford.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

- Lockhart, James H. Stewart (1975). *The Lockhart Collection of Chinese Copper Coins*. Lawrence, Mass.: Quarterman Publications. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0880000562](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0880000562).

- White, R. Byron, James H. Stewart Lockhart and Marjorie White (1976). *A Comprehensive Finding List of Chinese Cash: T'ang to Republic K'ai Yuan to Min Kuo, 618 Ad to 1912 Ad, Together with Lockhart's Listing of the Chinese Dynasties*. Sheldonville, MA: White. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0917114019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0917114019).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

## References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [James Stewart Lockhart](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:James_Stewart_Lockhart).

- Edinburgh City Art Centre (1982). *An Ardent Collector: An Exhibition of the Stewart Lockhart Collection*. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780950843605](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780950843605).

- Airlie, Shiona (1989). *Thistle and Bamboo: The Life and Times of Sir James Stewart Lockhart*. Hong Kong; New York: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0195842111](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195842111).

- Sonia Lightfoot (2008). *The Chinese painting collection and correspondence of Sir James Stewart Lockhart (1858–1937)*. E. Mellen Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780773450790](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780773450790).

- "Sir James Haldane Stewart Lockhart: Colonial Civil Servant and Scholar", Lethbridge, Henry J. (1978). *Hong Kong, Stability and Change: A Collection of Essays*. Hong Kong: Oxford University Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0195804023](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0195804023)..

Government offices Preceded by Frederick Stewart Registrar-General of Hong Kong 1887–1901 Succeeded by Arthur Winbolt Brewin Preceded by George Thomas Michael O'Brien Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong 1895–1902 Succeeded by Sir Francis Henry May Preceded by John Dodson Daintree Commissioner of Weihaiwei 1902–1921 Succeeded by Arthur Powlett Blunt Political offices Preceded by Samuel Brown President of the Sanitary Board 1891–1895 Succeeded by Francis Alfred Cooper

v t e Chief secretaries for administration Chief Secretary for Administration: Eric Chan Subordinate departments Administration Wing Legal Aid Department Human Resources Planning and Poverty Co-ordination Unit Previous office holders* Malcolm Morrison Wright-Bruce Caine Mercer Austin Marsh Stewart Fleming O'Brien Lockhart May Barnes Severn Southorn Smith Gimson MacDougall Nicoll Black David Burgess Teesdale Gass Norman-Walker Roberts Cater Haddon-Cave Akers-Jones Ford A. Chan Tsang Hui Tang S. Lam C. Lam Cheung Lee E. Chan * Includes Chief Secretaries and Colonial Secretaries

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Stewart Lockhart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart_Lockhart) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Stewart_Lockhart?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.