Henry Luttrell Moysey

Henry Luttrell Moysey ISO (10 December 1849 - 15 August 1918) was the ninth Postmaster General of Ceylon and Director of Telegraphs, serving from 1900 to 1906.

Henry Luttrell Moysey ISO
Postmaster General of Ceylon
In office 1900 - 1936
Preceded by	Charles Edward Ducat Pennycuick
Succeeded by	Arthur Sampson Pagden
Personal details
Born	10 December 1849 Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England
Died	15 August 1918 (aged 68) Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Dora Kathleen O'Grady m.1875
Children	Frederick James; Edward Luttrell; Mary Gertrude; Osmund
Parents	Frederick Luttrell Moysey; Arabella née Ward
Education	Cheltenham College
Occupation	public servant

Henry Luttrell Moysey was born on 10 December 1849, the youngest of six children and third son of Reverend Frederick Luttrell Moysey (1815-1906) and Arabella née Ward (1818-1903), in Wiveliscombe, Somerset.[1] He studied at Cheltenham College and entered the Ceylon Civil Service in September 1870. Moysey was appointed as the Police Magistrate, Kayts (1872); Assistant Government Agent, Kurunegala (1973); Assistant Government Agent, Batticaloa (1873); Assistant to the Government Agent, Northwestern Province (1876); Police Magistrate, Kandy (1877); Assistant Government Agent, Matale (1878); District Judge, Kurunegala (1891); Government Agent, Sabaragamuwa Province (1897); Principal Collector of Customs (1898) and Postmaster General and Director of Telegraphs (1900-1906).[2][3][4]

Moysey married Dora Kathleen O'Grady, the daughter of William Hervey O'Grady JP (a coconut plantation owner) on 23 November 1875 in Batticaloa, Ceylon. They had four children: Frederick James (1876-1907); Edward Luttrell (1877-c.1970); Mary Gertrude (1879-?); and Osmund.[5]

On 13 March 1888 Moysey was made a fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute.[6] In August 1899 he was appointed as an official member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon,[7] following his assignation as Principal Collector of Customs.[8] Moysey identified himself with the welfare of the local population, particularly the development of native agriculture and increasing the island's food supplies. During his tenure as Postmaster General he oversaw the re-construction of the telephone system and exchanges, the introduction of a new mail sorting system, construction of additional post offices, and a significant expansion of the overland telegraph system throughout the island.[9]

On 29 May 1903 he was awarded the Imperial Service Order.[10] Upon retiring from the position as Postmaster General on 23 August 1906 he returned to England, settling in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex.[11] He was made a Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute. He died at his residence, Creswell House on 15 August 1918.[12]

References

1. Burke, Sir Bernard; Burke, Ashworth Peter (1910). Burke, Ashworth Peter (ed.). A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage (72 ed.). Harrison. p. 2265.
2. Wright, Arnold, ed. (1999). Twentieth Century Impressions of Ceylon: Its History, People, Commerce, Industries, and Resources. Asian Educational Services. p. 133. ISBN 9788120613355.
3. Fairfield, Edward; Anderson, John (1886). The Colonial Office List for 1886. London: Harrison and Sons. p. 430.
4. Who was Who: A Companion to Who's Who, Containing the Biographies of Those who Died During the Period 1916 to 1928. 2. A. & C. Black. 1929. p. 757.
5. Melville Henry Massue marquis de Ruvigny et Raineval (1994). The Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal: Being a Complete Table of All the Descendants Now Living of Edward III, King of England. The Clarence volume : containing the descendants of George, Duke of Clarence. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 277. ISBN 9780806314365.
6. Royal Colonial Institute (1898). "Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Institute". 19. Sampson, Lowe, Marston, Searle & Rivington: 170. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
7. "Downing Street, August 2, 1899" (PDF). The London Gazette. 4 August 1899. p. 4833. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
8. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (1898). Annual Report and Accounts. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. p. xvii.
9. Ceylon Administration Reports for 1901. Colombo: H. C. Cottle (Government Printer). 1902. pp. B1–B9.
10. Ameresekere, Charles. "The Imperial Service Order (I.S.O.) and the Imperial Service Medal (I.S.M.)". CeylonMedals.com. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
11. Ferguson, J. (ed.). Ferguson's Ceylon Directory: 1909-1910. Colombo, Ceylon: Ceylon Observer. p. 39.
12. "Mr. H. L. Moysey". The Times. 21 August 1918. p. 8. Retrieved 3 November 2020.

External links

• Sri Lanka Post