George Thomas Michael O'Brien

George Thomas Michael O'Brien
6th Governor of Fiji
In office
March 1897 – 1901
Monarch Victoria
Preceded by Sir John Thurston
Succeeded by Sir William Allardyce (acting)
5th High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
March 1897 – 1901
Preceded by Sir John Thurston
Succeeded by Sir William Allardyce (acting)
9th Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong
In office
1892–1895
Preceded by Francis Fleming
Succeeded by Sir James Stewart Lockhart
19th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue
In office
18 October 1890 – 31 July 1891
Preceded by W. H. Ravenscroft
Succeeded by James Alexander Swettenham
Treasurer of Ceylon
In office
6 August 1886 – 1890
Preceded by William Dumaresq Wright
Succeeded by Frederick Richard Saunders
Personal details
Born 5 November 1844
Died 12 April 1906 (aged 61)
Occupation Colonial administrator

Sir George Thomas Michael O'Brien (Chinese: 柯布連) (5 November 1844 – 12 April 1906) was a British colonial official who served as Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong from 1892 to 1895, and as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific from 1897 to June 1901.

Career

O'Brien was the 19th Accountant General and Controller of Revenue of British Ceylon. He was appointed on 18 October 1890, succeeding W. H. Ravenscroft, and held the office until 31 July 1891. He was succeeded by J. A. Swettenham. He also served as Treasurer of Ceylon from 1886 to 1890.

He became Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in 1892, a position he held until 1895. In 1897, he succeeded John Thurston as Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. He was recalled in June 1901 following a conflict with the New Zealand Government led by Richard Seddon regarding a proposed Federation of Fiji and New Zealand.

He died in 1906.

O'Brien Road (柯布連道) in Wan Chai, Hong Kong was named after him.