Agent-general

in London An agent-general ( or , masculine and feminine respectively) is the representative in cities abroad of the government of a Canadian province or an Australian state and, historically, also of a British colony in Jamaica, Nigeria, Canada, Malta, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand and subsequently, of a Nigerian region. Australia's and Canada's federal governments are represented by high commissions, as are all Commonwealth national governments today. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a growing number of British colonies appointed agents in Great Britain and Ireland and occasionally elsewhere in Europe to promote immigration to the colonies. Eventually, agents-general were appointed by some colonies to represent their commercial, legal, and diplomatic interests in Britain and to the British government and Whitehall. They were appointed, and their expenses and salaries provided, by the governments of the colonies they represented. Starting in 1886, Quebec and the federal Canadian government also appointed agents-general to Paris. The first, Hector Fabre, was dispatched by the province of Quebec but was asked by the federal government to represent all of Canada. He and his successor, Philippe Roy, continued to represent both Quebec City and Ottawa in France until 1912 when the federal government asked Roy to resign his Quebec position to avoid conflicts of interest.…

in London]] An agent-general ( or , masculine and feminine respectively) is the representative in cities abroad of the government of a Canadian province or an Australian state and, historically, also of a British colony in Jamaica, Nigeria, Canada, Malta, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand and subsequently, of a Nigerian region. Australia's and Canada's federal governments are represented by high commissions, as are all Commonwealth national governments today. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a growing number of British colonies appointed agents in Great Britain and Ireland and occasionally elsewhere in Europe to promote immigration to the colonies. Eventually, agents-general were appointed by some colonies to represent their commercial, legal, and diplomatic interests in Britain and to the British government and Whitehall. They were appointed, and their expenses and salaries provided, by the governments of the colonies they represented. Starting in 1886, Quebec and the federal Canadian government also appointed agents-general to Paris. The first, Hector Fabre, was dispatched by the province of Quebec but was asked by the federal government to represent all of Canada. He and his successor, Philippe Roy, continued to represent both Quebec City and Ottawa in France until 1912 when the federal government asked Roy to resign his Quebec position to avoid conflicts of interest. Canadian provinces have also appointed agents-general (called delegates-general by Quebec beginning in the 1970s) to other countries and major cities. Following a military coup in Nigeria in 1966, the federal system was abolished, and the posts of the agents-general of Nigerian regions in London were subsumed in the Nigerian High Commission. By the 1990s, some Australian state governments regarded the office of their agent-general in London as a costly anachronism, even for promoting tourism and investment, and have since been closed and subsumed into the Australian High Commission. The majority of Australian states continue to have agents-general in London, but operate from Australia House rather than maintain separate premises. Many Canadian provinces similarly are no longer represented by an agent-general, although Quebec continues to have a Government Office in London ( ) and in several other cities around the world. Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have representatives who work out of the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. ==Diplomatic and legal status== ===Status in the United Kingdom=== In the United Kingdom, agents-general of Australia and Canada (and their staff) are granted the same diplomatic privileges and immunities held under international law by virtue of the Consular Relations Act 1968; this privilege is granted under the Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1985 (SI 1985/1983), these privileges including the right to freedom from arrest and exemption of duties and taxes. Agents-general of other countries are not afforded these privileges. ===Status in Australian, Canadian and international law=== With the exception of the diplomatic status afforded to agents-general by the British government, under international law, agents-general do not have any diplomatic or legal status, privileges or immunities, however, Australian agents-general may be granted the privilege of a diplomatic passport, while Canadian agents-general may be granted the privilege of an official passport. The passport status of an agent-general, or his or her staff, in the United Kingdom does not affect the diplomatic privileges and immunities afforded by the British government. ==Australia== In the Australian colonies and Province of South Australia, prior to each achieving responsible government, each was represented in the United Kingdom by the Colonial Agent. The position was appointed by the British Secretary of State for the Colonies to work within the Office of the Crown Agents for the Colonies; each colony was represented by the same Agent, Edward Barnard, who was not appointed or paid by the colonies. Growing dissatisfaction among colonial governments led, following each colony and province achieving responsible government, to the appointment of individual Agents-General appointed by the relevant colonial government to represent their interest to the Crown and Empire. South Australia was the first Australian colonial government to appoint an Agent-General, with Gregory Seale Walters taking the post in January 1859. Most Australian states continue to maintain Agents-General in London. ===Agents-general for South Australia=== ===Agents-general for New South Wales=== ===Agents-general for Queensland=== ===Agents-general for Tasmania=== Hon Adye Douglas (later Sir, Kt), 1886–1887 Sir Arthur Blyth (acting), 1887–1888 James Arndell Youl CMG (later Sir, KCMG) (acting), 1888 Hon Edward Braddon, (later Right Hon Sir, PC KCMG), 1888–1893 Sir Robert Herbert, 1893–1896 Sir Andrew Clarke (acting), 1896 Sir Westby Perceval, 1896–1898 Sir Andrew Clarke (acting), 1898–1899 Hon Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG, 1899–1901 Sir Andrew Clarke (acting), 1901 Hon Alfred Dobson, CMG, 1901–1908 Sir John McCall, KCMG, Kt., 1909–1919 Alfred Henry Ashbolt (later Sir, Kt), 1919–1924 Lieut.-Colonel R. Eccles Snowden (later Sir, Kt), 1924–1930 Darcy W. Addison, CMG, ISO, MVO, 1930–1931 Herbert W. Ely, ISO (acting), 1931–1937 Hon Sir Claude Ernest Weymouth James, Kt, 1937–1950 Sir Eric E. von Bibra, Kt, OBE 1950–1958 Hon Sir Alfred J White, Kt 1959–1971 Royce R. Neville, 1971–1978 Hon Bill Neilson AC, 1978–1981 ===Agents-general for Victoria=== Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, 1857–1858 Charles Pasley, 1864–1867 (acting) George Frederic Verdon, 1867–1872 Hugh Culling Eardley Childers, 1872–1873 James McCulloch, 1873 (acting from January to April) Archibald Michie, 1873–1879 Charles Pasley, 1880–1882 (acting) Robert Murray Smith, 1882–1886 Graham Berry, 1886–1891 James Munro, 1892–1893 Duncan Gillies, 1893–1897 Andrew Clarke, 1897–1902 (and for Tasmania) John William Taverner, 1903–1913 Peter McBride, 1913–1922 John McWhae, 1922–1924 George Fairbairn, 1924–1927 Walter Leitch, 1929–1933 Richard Linton, 1933–1936 Murray Bourchier, 1936–1937 Albert Louis Bussau, 1938–1944 Norman Angus Martin, 1945–1950 John Henry Lienhop, 1950–1956 William Watt Leggatt, 1956– 1964 Sir Horace Petty, 1964–1969 Sir Murray Porter, 1970–1976 Sir John Rossiter 1976–1979 The Hon Joseph Anstice Rafferty 1979–1983 Ian Haig, 1983–1985 Kenneth Andrew Finnin, 1985–1988 Ian Haig, 1988–1989 Ken Crompton, 1993–1996 Alan Brown, 1996–2000 Peter Hansen, 2000–2004 David Buckingham, 2004–2009 Sally Capp, 2009–2012 Geoffrey Conaghan, 2013–2016 Ken Ryan AM, 2017–2020 Tim Dillon, 2020–present ===Agents-general for Western Australia=== Hon Septimus Burt KC, 1891–1892 (Acting) Hon Sir Malcolm Fraser, 1892–1898 Hon Sir Edward Wittenoom, 1898–1901 Hon Sir Henry Lefroy, 1901–1904 Hon Sir Walter James, 1904–1907 Hon Sir Cornthwaite Rason, 1907–1911 Hon Sir Newton Moore, 1911–1917 Hon Sir James Connolly, 1917–1923 Hon Sir Hal Colebatch, 1923–1927 Hon William Angwin, 1927–1933 Hon Sir Hal Colebatch, 1933–1939 Hon Michael Troy, 1939–1947 Hon William Kitson, 1947–1952 Hon James Dimmitt, 1953–1957 Hon Ernest Hoar, 1957–1965 Hon Gerald Wild, 1965–1971 Hon Sir Stewart Bovell, 1971–1974 Jim Richards, 1975–1978 Les Slade, 1978–1982 Ron Douglas, 1982–1986 Hon Ron Davies, 1986–1990 David Fischer, 1990–1992 Gary Stokes, 1992–1994 Bill Hassell, 1994–1996 Hon Clive Griffiths, 1997–2001 Robert Fisher, 2001–2005 Noel Ashcroft, 2005–2008 Dr. Kerry Sanderson, 2008–2012 Kevin Skipworth, 2012–2015 John Atkins, 2015–2018 Commodore Michael Deeks CSC RAN Rtd, 2018–2021 John Langoulant, 2021–2024 Angela Kelly PSM, 2024–2025 Rebecca Tomkinson, 2025– ==Canada== ===Agents-general for Canada=== to the United Kingdom Edward Jenkins, MP for Dundee (1874–1876) William Annand (1876–1878) to France Hector Fabre (1886–1910) Philippe Roy (1911–1912) ===Agents-general for Alberta=== John Alexander Reid (Great War) Herbert Greenfield (1927–1931) R. A. McMullen (circa 1966) James McKibben (1980s) Mary LeMessurier (1986–1992) ===Agents-general for British Columbia=== Gilbert Malcolm Sproat (1872–1876) Thomas Stahlschmidt Henry Coppinger Beeton (1893–1895) Forbes George Vernon (1895–1898) William Walter (1898–1901) John Herbert Turner (1901–1915) Sir Richard McBride (1915–1917) Frederick Coate Wade (1917–1925) Frederick Arthur Pauline (1925–1931) Frederick Parker Burden (1931–1934) W. A. McAdam (1934–1958) B. M. Hoffmeister (1958–1961) J. V. Fishei (1961–1964) Earle Cathers Westwood (1964–1968) Rear Admiral M. G. Stirling (1968–1975) R. M. Strachan (1975–1977) L. J. Wallace (1977–1980) WR. Smart (Acting) (1980) A. H. Hart (1981–1987) Garde B. Gardom (1987–1992) Mark Willson Rose (1992–1995) Paul William King (Acting) (1995–2002) ===Agents-general for Manitoba=== Anthony John McMillan ( ) R. Murray Armstrong (1955–1963) As it was difficult to compete with larger provinces like Ontario and Quebec, the province of Manitoba decided to leave trade promotion to the federal government and accordingly recalled their agent-general in 1965 without appointing a replacement. ===Agents-general for New Brunswick=== Frederick W. Sumner (1915–) ===Agents-general for Nova Scotia=== Joshua Maugher (1761–1768) William Annand (1878–1887) John Howard (1892–1929) Miss Jean Iris Howard (Acting, 1929–1930s) Charles Arthur Richardson (1969–1972) John Elvin Shaffner (1973–1976) Rear Admiral Desmond Piers (1977–1979) Donald MacKeen Smith (1980–?) ===Agents-general for Ontario=== to the United Kingdom Southworth (1908–?) Richard Reid (1913–1916) Died in office Brigadier-General Manley R. Sims (1918–1920) G. C. Creelman (1920–1921) William C. Noxon (1921–1934) vacant (1934–1944) James S. P. Armstrong (1944–1967) Allan Rowan-Legg (1968–1972) Ward Cornell (1972–1978) W. Ross DeGeer (1978–1985) Thomas Leonard Wells (1985–1992) Robert Nixon (1992–1994) Taylor Shields (2019, rescinded) Sophia Arvanitis (2021-present) to Asia-Pacific Tim (Thomas E.) Armstrong (1986-1990) to South East Asia Bernard Derible (2025—present) to France Patrick J. Lavelle (1981-1983) Adrienne Clarkson (1983–1988) to Japan Robin Sears (1990–1994) to New York City Carlton Masters (1992) Tyler Albrecht (2019, rescinded) to Chicago Earl Provost (2019—present) to Dallas Jag Badwal (2019—present) ===Agents-general for Prince Edward Island=== Harrison Watson (1902–?) ===Agents-general for Quebec=== Quebec uses the title agent-general or delegate-general. In 1936, legislation was passed by the government of Maurice Duplessis closing all Quebec government offices abroad. The government of Adélard Godbout repealed the legislation and opened an office in New York City in 1940. When Duplessis returned to power in 1944, his government retained the New York City office and its agent-general but opened no others. In the early 1960s, the government of Jean Lesage began to open additional offices abroad appointing in Paris (1961), London (1962), Rome and Milan (1965) and subsequent governments opened offices in Chicago (1969), Boston, Lafayette, Dallas and Los Angeles (1970), Munich and Berlin (1971), Brussels (1972), Atlanta (1977), Washington (1978), Mexico City and Tokyo (1980), Beijing and Santiago (1998), Shanghai and Barcelona (1999), Mumbai (2007), São Paulo (2008) and Moscow (2012). In 1971, the title of agent-general was officially changed to delegate-general although previous title is still often used, particularly for the government's representative to London. , the Government of Quebec has 35 offices abroad, including 9 delegates-general. to the United Kingdom Jean-Marie-Joseph-Pantaléon Pelletier (1911–1924) Louis-Joseph Lemieux (1925–1936) vacant (1936–1961) Hugues Lapointe (1961–1966) Guy Roberge (1966–1971) Jean Fournier (1971–1977) Gilles Loiselle (1977–1983) Patrick Hyndman (1983–1987) Reed Scowen (1987–1992) Harold Mailhot (1992–1995) Richard Guay (1995–2000) Daniel Audet (2000–2003) George R. MacLaren (2003–2008) Pierre Boulanger (2008–2012) Stéphane Paquet (2012–2014) Christos Sirros (2014–2017) John A. Coleman (2017–2019) Pierre Gabriel Côté (2019–2021) Line Rivard (Nov 22, 2021- Oct 5, 2025)Nominations du Conseil des ministres Geneviève Brisson (Oct 6, 2025 - present)Nominations du Conseil des ministres to France Hector Fabre (1882–1910) Philippe Roy (1911–1912) vacant (1912–1961) Charles Lussier (1961–1964) Jean Chapdelaine (delegate general) (1964–1976) François Cloutier (delegate general) (1976–1977) Jean Deschamps (delegate general) (1977–1979) Yves Michaud (delegate general) (1979–1984) Louise Beaudoin (delegate general) (1984–1985) Claude Pug (delegate general) (1985–1986) Jean-Louis Roy (delegate general) (1986–1990) Marcel Bergeron (delegate general) (1990–1991) André Dufour (delegate general) (1991–1994) Claude Pug (delegate general) (1994–1995) Marcel Masse (delegate general) (1995–1997) Michel Lucier (delegate general) (1997–2000) Clément Duhaime (delegate general) (2000–2005) Wilfrid-Guy Licari (delegate general) (2005–2010) Michel Robitaille (delegate general) (2010–present) to Belgium Godfroy Langlois (1914–1928) vacant (1936–1972) Jean Deschamps (1972–1977) Jean Chapdelaine (chargé des affaires) (1977) André Patry (1978) Jean-Marc Léger (1978–1981) Jean-Paul L'Allier (1981–1984) Jean Tardif (1984–1986) Claude Roquet (1986–1989) Pierre Lorrain (1989–1993) Gérard P. Latulippe (1993–1996) Denis de Belleval (1996–1999) Richard Guay (1999–2001) Nicole Stafford (2001–2004) Christos Sirros (2004–2014) Michel Audet (delegate general) (2014–present) to Germany (Munich) Claude Trudelle (delegate general) (as of 2016) to Japan Claire Deronzier (delegate general) (2013–present) to Mexico Christiane Pelchat (delegate general) (2011–2014) Eric R. Mercier (delegate general) (as of 2016) to the United States (New York City) Charles Chartier (1940–1967) Jean-Marc Roy (1967–1969) Général Jean V. Allard (1969–1971) Guy Poliquin (1971–1977) Marcel Bergeron (delegate general) (1977–1980) Richard Pouliot (delegate general) (1980–1982) Raymond Gosselin (delegate general) (1982–1984) Rita Dionne-Marsolais (delegate general) (1984–1987) Léo Paré (delegate general) (1987–1992) Reed Scowen (delegate general) (1992–1994) Kevin Drummond (delegate general) (1994–1997) David Levine (delegate general) (1997–1998) Diane Wilhelmy (delegate general) (1998–2002) Michel Robitaille (delegate general) (2002–2007) Bruno Fortier (delegate general) (2007–2008) Robert Keating (delegate general) (2008–2009) John Parisella (delegate general) (2009–2012) André Boisclair (delegate general) (2012–2013) Dominique Poirier (delegate general) (2013–2014) Jean-Claude Lauzon (delegate general) (2014–present) ===Agents-general for Saskatchewan=== Graham Spry (1946–1968) Edward Arthur Boden (1973–1977) Merv Johnson (1977–1983) Robert Larter Paul Emile Rousseau (1986–1991) Ranissah Samah (Oct 2021–present)LinkedIn ==Jamaica== Source: Historic Jamaica. 1664–1666: Sir James Modyford 1682–?: Sir Charles Lyttelton William Beeston 1688: Ralph Knight Gilbert Heathcote 1693–1704: Bartholomew Gracedieu 1714: P. Marsh 1725: Alexander Stephenson 1725–1726: Edward Charlton 1728–1733: Charles de la Foy 1733: John Gregory 1733–1757: John Sharpe 1757–1762: Lovell Stanhope (MP for Winchester) 1764–1795: Stephen Fuller 1795–1803: Robert Sewell 1803–1812: Edmund Pusey Lyon 1812–1831: George Hibbert 1831–1845: William Burge 1845 Office abolished ==Malta== With the granting of responsible self-government to Malta in 1921, a proposal of the government of Lord Strickland to appoint an agent-general to "encourage the migration of Maltese to the Northern Territory and north-west Australia" was presented to the parliament. Strickland, who was Governor of Western Australia (1909–1913) suggested former Colonial Secretary and Agent-General of Western Australia in London, Sir James Connolly. The position was discontinued with the suspension of the constitution in November 1933 and was replaced by a Trade Commissioner, who was in turn replaced by a Commissioner-General in 1947. ==South Africa== Prior to the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, the four constituent British colonies of southern Africa all sent agents-general to London, coinciding with the establishment of responsible self-government in each colony. ===Agent-general for the Orange River Colony=== The Orange River Colony sent an agent-general from 1908 until the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Brounger was a former director of the Orange Free State Railways. ===Agent-general for the Transvaal Colony=== The Transvaal Colony sent an agent-general from the establishment of responsible self-government in 1907 until the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. Solomon then served as the first South African High Commissioner in London from 1910 to 1913. ===Agents-general for the Cape Colony=== The Cape Colony sent separate agents-general until the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. ===Agents-general for Natal=== The Colony of Natal sent separate agents-general until the creation of the Union of South Africa in 1910. ==New Zealand== After 1905 the position of Agent-General was replaced by that of High Commissioner, with the final Agent-General becoming the first High Commissioner. ==Nigerian regions== with Arthur Prest (left) and Alhaji Sa'adu Alanamu (right)]] The First Nigerian agents-general to the United Kingdom were appointed in December 1959 and include: Northern Region: Alhaji Sa'adu Alanamu Eastern Region: Jonah Chinyere Achara Western Region: Chief Akitoye Emmanuel Coker The last Nigerian agents-General in London were: Northern Region: Baba Gana Eastern Region: A. Ekukinam-Bassey Western Region: Prince Delphus Adebayo Odubanjo Mid-West Region: Josiah A.P. Oki ==Notes== ==Bibliography== Australian Dictionary of Biography ==External links== Australian High Commission Website Quebec Government Office in London Victorian Government Agent-General Office of the Agent-General – South Australia Agent-General (UK) – Trade & Investment Queensland

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