Lieutenant-Governor of St. Christopher (1854) and combined with the latter post the dormant commission of Governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands. Consequent upon his courageous acceptance of the governorship of Hongkong, he was created a Knight Bachelor in June, 1859.
Sir H. Robinson, destined by Providence to reap where his predecessors had sown, arrived in Hongkong on September 9th, 1859, and took on the same day the oaths of his office as Governor and Commander-in-chief and Vice-Admiral, being the first Governor of Hongkong entirely dissociated from the Superintendency of Trade and from the diplomatic duties of H.M. Plenipotentiary in China. During his tenure of office. Sir Hercules was twice absent on furlough, first for a brief visit to Japan (July 17 to September 8, 1861), and subsequently for a longer term (July 12, 1862, to February 11, 1864), during which he visited England and transacted (in autumn, 1863) some business for the Colonial Office as a Member of the Commission appointed to inquire into the financial condition of the Straits Settlements. On leaving Hongkong on the latter occasion (July 12, 1862), after but three years of his administration, so great was the change already wrought in the commercial, financial and administrative condition of Hongkong affairs, that he was presented on his departure with enthusiastic addresses from the local Volunteers, the Bishop and all the Members of Council, congratulating him on the undoubted success achieved. During his absence from Hongkong, the government of the Colony was on both occasions, as well as after his final departure, administered by the Colonial Secretary (W. T. Mercer) who faithfully and successfully continued the line of policy initiated by Sir Hercules. The recognition of the improved status which the Colony had gained by this time found expression in the permission now (January 23, 1863) given to the Governor of Hongkong to wear the uniform of the first class.
By the time when Sir H. Robinson arrived in Hongkong (September 9, 1859), the Superintendency of Trade had already been removed to Shanghai where Sir F. W. Bruce (since June,
