# Franklin Gimson

_British colonial administrator (1890-1975)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/franklin-gimson
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Sir Franklin Charles Gimson  (10 September 1890 – 13 February 1975) was a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of Singapore from 1946 to 1952.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 10 September 1890 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Barrow upon Soar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P19))
- **Died:** 13 February 1975 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P570))
- **Place of death:** Pickering ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United Kingdom; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P106))
- **Education:** Balliol College ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P69))
- **Positions held:** Governor of Hong Kong ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P39))
- **Awards:** Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361#P166))

## About

Gimson assumed the post of the Colonial Secretary of Hong Kong in December 1941. However, his appointment was interrupted by the Battle of Hong Kong. He became a prisoner of war when then Governor Sir Mark Young surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army on Christmas Day 1941. After spending more than three years in Stanley Internment Camp as an internee, Gimson was freed in August 1945, upon the Liberation of Hong Kong. He formed a short-lived provisional government and briefly declared himself "acting governor", but this administration was soon replaced when Rear Admiral Cecil Harcourt established the military government following in September.

Gimson was the first Governor of Singapore from 1946 to 1952 and reinstalled the civil administration in Singapore. During his governorship, he witnessed the establishment of the legislative council and the executive council in 1947. His governorship was also marked by the increasingly unstable political situation which was provoked by the Malayan Emergency, and the controversial legislation of the Internal Security Act.

## Questions

**When was Franklin Gimson born?**  
Franklin Gimson was born on 10 September 1890 in Barrow upon Soar.

**What positions has Franklin Gimson held?**  
Positions held by Franklin Gimson include: Governor of Hong Kong.

**Where did Franklin Gimson study?**  
Franklin Gimson was educated at Balliol College.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Franklin Gimson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Gimson) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q5491361](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5491361) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Frank Gimson.jpg by unknown, uploader was Clithering at zh.wikipedia (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frank_Gimson.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Franklin Gimson, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Frank Gimson.jpg — unknown, uploader was Clithering at zh.wikipedia, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Franklin Gimson". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/franklin-gimson. Retrieved 4 November 2026.