Colonial Despatches

Benjamin Hawes, permanent under secretary for colonies, and deputy secretary at the war department, was born in London in 1797.1 He was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant for Surrey before being elected to represent the borough of Lambeth in 12 December 1832.2 Hawes held this seat until 1847 and represented Kinsale from 11 March 1848 to 1852.4

He became under-secretary in the Colonial Office on 6 July 1846, then deputy secretary in the War Office on 31 October 1851, resigning his seat in Parliament in 1852, and in 1857 he became permanent under-secretary.5 Hawes received a KCB on 5 February 1856 and remained in office until his death at Westminster on 15 May 1862.6

• 1. Ged Martin, Hawes, Sir Benjamin, Oxfordd Dictionary of National Biography.
• 2. Ibid.
• 3. Ibid.
• 4. Ibid.
• 5. Ibid.
• 6. Ibid.

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