# Matthew Nathan

_British colonial administrator (1862–1939)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/matthew-nathan
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Matthew Nathan was a British soldier and colonial administrator, who variously served as the governor of Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Hong Kong, Natal and Queensland. He was Under-Secretary for Ireland from 1914 to 1916, and was responsible, with the Chief Secretary, Augustine Birrell, for the administration of Ireland in the years immediately preceding the Easter Rising.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 3 January 1862 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Paddington ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P19))
- **Died:** 18 April 1939 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P570))
- **Place of death:** West Coker ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P20))
- **Citizenship:** United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P27))
- **Occupation:** engineer; military officer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P106))
- **Education:** Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; Royal Military Academy Sandhurst ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P69))
- **Positions held:** High Sheriff of Somerset (1934–1935); Governor of Queensland (3 December 1920 – 17 September 1925); Governor of Hong Kong (29 July 1904 – 29 July 1907); Governor of the Gold Coast (17 December 1900 – 9 February 1904); Member of the Privy Council of Ireland ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P39))
- **Awards:** Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005#P166))

## Questions

**When was Matthew Nathan born?**  
Matthew Nathan was born on 3 January 1862 in Paddington.

**What positions has Matthew Nathan held?**  
Positions held by Matthew Nathan include: High Sheriff of Somerset (1934–1935); Governor of Queensland (1920–1925); Governor of Hong Kong (1904–1907); Governor of the Gold Coast (1900–1904); Member of the Privy Council of Ireland.

**Where did Matthew Nathan study?**  
Matthew Nathan was educated at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Matthew Nathan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Nathan) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q973005](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q973005) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Sir Matthew Nathan.jpg by originally uploaded by Roisterer ( talk ) (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Matthew_Nathan.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Matthew Nathan, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Sir Matthew Nathan.jpg — originally uploaded by Roisterer ( talk ), Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Matthew Nathan". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/matthew-nathan. Retrieved 5 November 2026.