Furse, Ralph Dolignon, Sir, 1887-

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Sir Ralph Dolignon Furse was born in London on the 29 September 1887 and educated at Eton, and Balliol College, Oxford. He joined the Colonial Office in 1910 as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State, Lewis (later Viscount) Harcourt. During World War I he was on active service in France and Italy; he was wounded in 1917, twice mentioned in despatches, and appointed to the DSO in 1918 with bar in 1919.

Furse rejoined the Colonial Office in 1919 as Assistant Private Secretary, later Private Secretary, to successive Secretaries of State (Viscount Milner, 1919; Churchill, 1921; Duke of Devonshire, 1922; J.H. Thomas, 1924; Amery, 1924, and Lord Passfield, 1929). In 1930 he was appointed Director of Recruitment in the Colonial Service, a post which he held until his retirement in 1948. After retirement Furse served as an adviser to the Secretary of State for the Colonies on training courses for the Colonial Service (1948-1950).

He was appointed CMG (1935), KCMG (1941) and in 1949 the University of Oxford made him an honorary DCL (Doctor of Civil Law). Furse died on 1 October 1973.

From the guide to the Papers of Sir Ralph Dolignon Furse, 1916-1964, (The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Ann Bridge [pseudonym of Mary Dolling Sanders O'Malley] Papers TXRC95-A3., 1815-1973, bulk 1905-1973 Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Bridge, Ann, 1889-1974. Papers, 1815-1973, (bulk 1905-1973). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Papers of Sir Ralph Dolignon Furse, 1916-1964 The Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House
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associatedWith Bridge, Ann, 1889-1974 person
associatedWith Furse Ralph Dolignon 1887-1973 person
associatedWith Great Britain Colonial Office corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
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Colonial administrators
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Birth 1887

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