James Harford

Who was James Harford?

Sir James Dundas Harford KBE CMG was a British diplomat who served as Governor of Saint Helena from 1954 to 1958.

A direct descendant of John Scandrett Harford of Blaise Castle, he was educated at Repton School and Balliol College, Oxford. Between school and university he enlisted as a Second Lieutenant in 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment and saw action in France between 1917 and 1918. After a period as a schoolmaster at Eton College from 1922 to 1926, Harford joined the Colonial Administration Service and was posted to Nigeria.

He was subsequently appointed:

Administrator of Antigua and Federal Secretary of the Leeward Islands;

Administrator of Saint Kitts and Nevis;

Acting Governor of the Leeward Islands;

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George;

To serve in the Colonial Office;

Colonial Secretary of Mauritius;

Acting Governor of Mauritius;

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Saint Helena;

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Harford Middle School in Saint Helena is named in his honour.