John Owen Dominis
|
John Owen Dominis (10 March 1832 - 27 August 1891) was an American-born statesman, Prince Consort of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and royal governor of the islands of O'ahu and Mau'i in the present-day United States. Dominis was married to Queen Lili'uokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawai'i before being overthrown by Americans, interested in protecting personal sugar profits by seeking American annexation to rid of tariffs, with the aide of the United States Marine Corps in 1893.
John Owen Dominis was born on in Schenectady, New York. He grew up in a mansion commissioned by Kamehameha III for the Dominis family called Washington Place, today the home of the Governors of Hawai'i. He married Mary Purdy Lamiki Aimoku and had one child, John Owen Dominis, Jr. His wife and son died in Honolulu. In 1862, Dominis married Princess Lydia Kamaka'eha Paki, as Queen Liliu'okalani was known then. In 1868, Dominis was appointed royal governor of the islands of O'ahu and Mau'i, an office he served until his death. Upon the death of Mary Dominis in 1889, Dominis' wife became mistress of Washington Place, which became a lesser royal palace. Dominis died on 27 August 1891 in Honolulu.