HART, Sir Robert (PEKING), 1st Bt., K.C.M.G.,M.A., LL.D.; InspectorGeneral of Imperial Customs and Posts in China; b. Feb. 20, 1835, at Milltown, Co. Armagh, c. s. of Henry Hart, Rivarnette House, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, and Ann, 2nd d. of John Edgar, Ballybray; m. 1866, Hester Jane, c. d. of Alexander Bredon, M.D., Portadown, 1866. Kduc.: Queen's College, Taunton; Wesley College, Dublin; Queen's College, Belfast; B.A., 1853; M.A. 1871; Hon. LL.D., 1882. Entered Consular Service in China, 1854; Supernumerary Interpreter, Superintendency of Trade, Hongkong, 1854; Supernumerary, British Consulate, Ningpo, 1854; Assistant, British Consulate, Ningpo, 1855; 2nd Assistant, British Consulate, Canton, 1858; Secretary to the Allied Commissioners for the Government of the City of Canton, 1858; Interpreter, British Consulate, Canton, 1858; granted special permission to resign and accept an appointment in the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, 1859; Chinese Maritime Customs: Deputy Commissioner, Canton, 1859; Officiating Inspector-General, 1861-1863; Commissioner at Shanghai, with charge of Yangtze Ports and Ningpo, 1863; Inspector-General, 1863; gazetted Minister Plenipotentiary, 1835, but declined; Forderer of Museum fiir Volkerkunde, Zeipzig, 1878; Hon. Member, China Branch, Royal Asiatic.Society, Shanghai, 1879; Hon. Member of Oriental Museum, Vienna, 1880; Hon. Fellow, Royal Statistical Society, London, 1890; Hon. Member of Institute de Droit International, 1892; appointment of Chinese officials as Administratorin-Chief and Vice-Administrator of Customs, May, 1906, involving his practical supersession led to protests by British and American Ministers. Decorations: Brevet title of An Ch'a Ssu (Civil rank of the 3rd class), China, 1864; Brevet title of P Cheng Ssu (Civil rank of the 2nd class), China, 1869; Chevalier of the order of Wasa, Sweden-Norway, 1870; Red Button of the 1st class. China, 1881; created K.C.M.G., 1882; Grand Officer, order of the Crown of Italy, 1884; Knight Grand Cross, order of Francis Joseph, Austria; Grand Officer, Legion of Honour, France, 1885; Commander, order of Pius IX, Rome, 1885; Double Dragon, 2nd division, 1st class, China, 1885; the Peacock's Feather, China, 1885; Knight Grand Cross, order of Christ, Portugal, 1888; created G.C.M.G., 1889; Ancestral rank of the 1st class of 1st order for three generations, with letters patent, China, 1889; created 1st Baronet, 1893; Knight Grand Cross, order of the Polar Star, Norway, 1594; Knight Grand Cross, order of Orange Nassau, Holland, 1897; order of the Crown, 1st class. Prussia, 1900; Brevet title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, China, 1901. Publication: "These from the Land of Sinim," 1901. Heir: s., Edgar Bruce, b. 1893. Club: Athenreum, London. Address: Inspectorate General of Customs, Peking, China; 38, Cadogan Place, London. S.W.