Twenty fifth Governor of New South Wales.

Born in Canada 1864 of English parents.

Became Governor of New South Wales in 1923.

Duties were to represent the British king and British government. Answerable to a British cabinet minister and could defy his ministers when he thought necessary.

J. T. Lang asked de Chair to appoint twenty five new members to the Legislative Council. De Chair agreed as long as the appointments were not used to abolish the Council. Lang tried to abolish the Council but failed. This led to strained relations between the Governor and the Premier.

Even though the Attorney General travelled to England to insist upon more appointments, which de Chair had refused, de Chair believed that " foreign elements were behind the movement to recall the Governor, and wreck the Constitution, and to establish a Communist Government."

In May, 1927, Lang resigned, was reappointed, selected a new ministry and then obtained a dissolution for an October election. During these events Chief Justice Sir Philip Street secretly advised De Chair. Sir Thomas Bavin's subsequent victory ended for de Chair 'two years of most difficult and unpleasant political strife".

Invited by Bavin to remain beyond his term of office, de Chair obtained a year's extension from a reluctant Dominions Office.

Retired in 1930 and returned to London.

Died in 1958.