Charles Valentine Brayne
Charles Valentine Brayne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 August 1877 |
| Died | 16 November 1964 (aged 87) |
| Alma mater | Pembroke College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Colonial administrative service officer |
| Years active | 1901–1935 |
| Children | 3 daughters |
| Relatives | Frank Lugard Brayne (brother) |
Charles Valentine Brayne CMG (17 August 1877 – 16 November 1964) was a British colonial administrator who served in British Ceylon.
Early life and education
[edit]Brayne was born on 17 August 1877 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire, the third son of Rev R. Brayne, Rector of Combe Hay, Somerset. He was educated at Monkton Combe School, and Pembroke College, Cambridge where he received his BA in 1899.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Brayne entered the Ceylon civil service in 1901 as a cadet at Jaffna District. He then transferred to Mannar District (1903) and then served as assistant to the Government Agent at Anuradhapura (1903); Assistant Collector of Customs, Trincomalee (1905); Assistant Government Agent, Northern Province (1906); District Judge at Badulla (1909); Assistant Government Agent, Colombo (1912), and Assistant Government Agent, Kalutara (1914–1916).[1][2][3][4]
Brayne was appointed Special Commissioner for the Western Province in response to the 1915 Ceylonese riots which led to the declaration of martial law and resulted in over 100 deaths. Vested with the powers of a district judge and police magistrate, he was active in attempts to quell the riots, coordinating arrests of rioters, disarming villagers, recovering looted property and awarding compensation.[2][5][6]
In 1920, Brayne was promoted to Government Agent of Western Province. In 1927, he served as Acting Controller of Revenue and was appointed a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils. He devised the Peasant Proprietors' Land Scheme to increase land ownership of farmers and encourage more food production.[7] He then served as Commissioner of Lands, Ceylon (1931–1935).[4] After he retired to England, he served as a member of Leatherhead Urban District Council (1938–1947).[1][2]
Personal life and death
[edit]Brayne married Amy Goodchild in 1906, with whom he had three daughters, and in 1922, married Blodwen Price.[1]
Brayne died on 16 November 1964, aged 87.[1]
Honours
[edit]Brayne was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1935 Birthday Honours.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Who was who, 1961-1970 : a companion to Who's who. Internet Archive. London : A. & C. Black. 1979. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-7136-2008-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b c d University of Cambridge; Venn, John; Venn, J. A. (John Archibald) (1922–54). Alumni cantabrigienses. Robarts - University of Toronto. Cambridge, University Press. p. 367.
- ^ Arnold Wright (1999). Twentieth century impressions of Ceylon : its history, people, commerce, industries, and resources. Public Resource. New Delhi : Asian Educational Services (published 108). ISBN 978-81-206-1335-5.
- ^ a b Relations, Great Britain Office of Commonwealth (1934). The Dominions Office and Colonial Office. Waterlow & Sons, Limited.
- ^ Roberts, Michael (2021-09-01). Exploring Confrontation: Sri Lanka: Politics, Culture and History. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-35597-6.
- ^ Irāmaṉātaṉ, P. (2003). Riots and Martial Law in Ceylon, 1915: With a Map and Illustrations. Asian Educational Services. p. 105. ISBN 978-81-206-1690-5.
- ^ "Ceylon Notes". Malaya Tribune. 3 November 1927. p. 11.
- ^ "Page 3598 | Supplement 34166, 31 May 1935 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
- 1877 births
- 1964 deaths
- Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
- British expatriates in British Ceylon
- Colonial Administrative Service officers
- Government Agents (Sri Lanka)
- British civil servants in British Ceylon
- People educated at Monkton Combe School
- Alumni of Pembroke College, Cambridge
- Members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon