Sixteenth Governor of New South Wales. Born in England in 1843.

Arrived in colony to find it in crisis – drought, economic recession and political crisis.

Privately, his opinion of colonial politics was low: ‘its factions, its personal changes, its waste of time and opportunity…. are but humble imitations of the proceedings of London statesmen.’

Had a clear sense of the conventions that limited the role of the Queen’s Representative. He was impatient about attitudes to Chinese immigration and naval defence but did not interfere and faithfully sent local opinion to England.

Firmly exercised the powers that he indisputably held: the granting of dissolutions of parliament and the approval of appointments to the Legislative Council.

He convinced Henry Parkes in 1887 of the folly of seeking to change the colony’s name to Australia.

Supported Henry Parkes’ promotion of Federation and his diplomatic work with the governors in Victoria and South Australia was crucial in paving the way for the Federation Conference of 1890.

Successfully fulfilled a social role. In 1887, celebrations of Queen Victoria’s jubilee, he banquetted a thousand poor boys from Sydney who also received medals struck for the occasion. Established the Jubilee Fund to relieve distressed women. Dedicated Centennial Park, laid the foundation stones of the Trades Hall and of projected new Houses of Parliament.

Left Sydney with an unprecedented farewell – thousands lined the street and threw flowers on their carriage. Carrington declared he and his wife were "guests who found their welcome at once an adoption, and whose farewell leaves half their hearts behind."

When he returned to England, he espoused Australian nationalism rather than imperial federation.

Died in England in 1928.

A. W. Martin, 'CARRINGTON, CHARLES ROBERT', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 5 ed. Douglas Pike pp 90-100 ( Melbourne University Press