Moody, Richard Clement (1813-1887)

Moody, Richard Clement

COLONIAL GOVERNOR (ENGLAND)

BORN 13 Feb 1813, Barbados - DIED 31 Mar 1887, Bournemouth, Dorset
GRAVE LOCATION Bournemouth, Dorset: St. Peter's Churchyard

Richard Moody was the son of a Colonial Office Administrator. He was educated at the Military Academy in Woolwich. In 1830 he joined the Royal Engineers as a second lieutenant. In 1841 he became lieutenant governor of the Falkland Islands and in 1843 he was promoted to governor.

In 1849 he returned to England and married Mary Hawks in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1852. After service in Malta and Edinburgh he was promoted to brevet Colonel in 1858 and sent to British Columbia. Robert Burnaby became his personal secretary and his close friend. He founded the new capital Queenborough that was renamed to New Westminster by Queen Victoria. A road network was constructed as well. In 1863 his mission ended and he returned to England.

In 1866 he was promoted to Major-General and he retired. He died in Bournemouth in 1887.

Images

The grave of Richard Moody at St. Peter's Churchyard, Bournemouth.
Picture by Androom (18 Jun 2010)