Francis George Atkinson
Francis George Atkinson (* 1874, Jersey, British Kronbesitzungen; † December 6, 1902 in Jesselton, British North Borneo ), was a British civil servant. He was the first District Officer of Jesselton.
Life
Atkinson was in 1874 in England, the son of the pastor Rev. FH Atkinson was born in Jersey in the Channel Islands. He received his education at Victoria College in Jersey. Then he spent some time in Australia before he applied in March 1898 for service in Borneo. In January 1901 he was appointed District Officer of Jesselton. In his short tenure Atkinson gained great popularity among the people and was widely known by the nickname West Coast Atky.
In Atkinson's tenure, the creation of the Sanitary Board of Jesselton fell. According to the Sanitary Board Proclamation XXII of 1901 was to be formed in all major cities of North Borneo a Sanitary Board, whose task was to improve the living conditions of health perspective. In addition to the maintenance of lighting, faecal and sewage systems, the cemeteries and the marketplace also included the organization of collection and the planting of shade trees in the city. Jesselton was the first city in 1902 such a Sanitary Board founded; consisting of F.G. Atkinson ( District Officer ), Dr. Walter D. Perry ( medical officer ), HS Bond ( Armed Constabulary ), T.R. Allen ( head of the construction office ), A.W. Routledge ( Assistant District Officer ) and four representatives of the citizenry. [Note 1]
After only one and a half years in office, Atkinson died on December 6, 1902 at the age of 28 years due to heart failure as a result of malaria, at that time as " Borneo fever ' known. [Note 2]
Atkinson Clock Tower
Atkinson's mother Mary Edith Atkinson, who inherited his estate after the death of her son, the city Jesselton donated in memory of their son, a clock with two dials, which was built by the city in a clock tower made of tropical hardwood. The Atkinson Clock Tower survived two world wars and is now one of the few historical buildings from Kota Kinabalu.