GREY, SIR George, British colonial gov ernor and statesman: b. Lisbon, 14 April 1812; d. London, 20 Sept. 1898. He was the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Grey of the 30th Foot Guards. After receiving his training at Sand hurst Military College, he was commissioned in 1829, becoming lieutenant in 1833 and captain in 1839. In 1836 he undertook the exploration of northwest Australia for the Royal Geo graphical Society, and in the following year traveled over the Swan River district. Two years later he was appointed governor-resident at Albany; and after a short service in that capacity, returned to London. He was imme diately detailed to South Australia as governor. His vigorous rule restored peace and prosper ity to the region and autonomy followed. After eight years of governorship, Grey was knighted and transferred to Cape Colony. Here his administration was characterized by the same firm policies and the same independent interpretation of the interests of the colonists. His attempts to federate South Africa dis pleased the Colonial Office and he was sent back again to New Zealand, a post of increased difficulties and hardships. In 1867 he was re called to England, where his attempts to enter politics met with little success. A pension of
f1,000 was awarded him five years later on which he retired near Auckland with the in tention of withdrawing from politics altogether and devoting himself to scholarly pursuits. But in 1875 he was invited to accept the office of superintendent of the province of Auckland; sat later in the New Zealand House of Repre sentatives and rose to the premiership. His ministry ended in 1879; and his advocacy of the reform franchise at the Sydney convention was his last active work in the politics of the country whose interests had absorbed the best energies and efforts of his life. In 1894 he returned to London where until his death he enjoyed some small degree of royal favor. His extensive library was donated partly to Cape Town and partly to Auckland. A statue has been erected to his memory at Cape Town. He wrote 'Journals of Discovery in A.ustralial (1841) ; 'Polynesian Mythology' (1855); 'Pro verbial Sayings of the Ancestors of the New Zealand Race' (1858). Consult Rees, W. L. and L., 'The Life and Times of Sir George Grey' (London 1892) ; Henderson, G. C., 'Sir George Grey' (ib. 1907) ; Collier, T., 'Sir George Grey' (1909).