Dennis White (colonial administrator)

Sir Dennis Charles Wright KBE CMG (30 July 1910 – 17 October 1983) was a British colonial administrator in Sarawak who became the first High Commissioner for Brunei.^[1]

Career

White was educated at Bradfield College, then joined the service of the Rajah of Sarawak in 1932. Before World War II he served in areas where the Dayak majority were suspicious of the government in Kuching, and he played an active part in winning over rebel leaders.^[2] During the war he was a prisoner in Kuching, and afterwards, as one of the few experienced Sarawak officers to survive, he was closely involved in the difficult negotiations for Sarawak to be ceded to the British Crown. There was an anti-cession movement and the second Governor, Sir Duncan Stewart, was murdered shortly after he arrived; but a happier period followed the arrival of Sir Anthony Abell, the third Governor. White was then based in Sibu – "his good knowledge of the Dayak and Malay languages was one of his attributes that endeared him to the local people."^[2]

White was posted to Brunei in 1958 as British Resident; in the following year the constitution was changed, the post of Resident was abolished and White became the first British High Commissioner for Brunei.^[3] He retired in 1963 but served as Agent in London for Brunei 1967–82.

Dennis White was appointed OBE in the 1953 Coronation Honours,^[4] CMG in the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours,^[5] and knighted KBE in the 1962 New Year Honours.^[6] In 1963 the Sultan of Brunei awarded him the Family Order of Brunei, First Class.^[7]

References