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{{Infobox governor
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Henry Stanhope Freeman
| name = Henry Stanhope Freeman
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| predecessor = [[William McCoskry]]
| predecessor = [[William McCoskry]]
| successor = [[John Hawley Glover]]
| successor = [[John Hawley Glover]]
| birth_date =
| birth_date = c. 1831
| birth_place =
| birth_place =
| death_date = April 1865
| death_date = April 1865
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Freeman was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society on 14 December 1861.{{sfn|London Review}}
Freeman was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society on 14 December 1861.{{sfn|London Review}}
He was also a member of the Anthropological society, attending and speaking at some of the meetings but not contributing to the society's publications.{{sfn|Anthropological Society|pp=62}}
He was also a member of the Anthropological society, attending and speaking at some of the meetings but not contributing to the society's publications.{{sfn|Anthropological Society|pp=62}}
Before being appointed Governor of Lagos, Freeman was British Vice-Consul at [[Janina]] in [[Greece]].{{sfn|Appointments, Preferments}}
Before being appointed Governor of Lagos, Freeman was British Vice-Consul at [[Janina]] in the [[Ottoman Empire]].{{sfn|Appointments, Preferments}}


==Lagos governor==
==Lagos governor==
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In his Annual Report for 1863, Freeman said that trade had almost stopped altogether due to the war between [[Ibadan]] and [[Abeokuta]].{{sfn|Rubin}}
In his Annual Report for 1863, Freeman said that trade had almost stopped altogether due to the war between [[Ibadan]] and [[Abeokuta]].{{sfn|Rubin}}


In a letter of 9 October 1862 Freeman defended his decision to extend his authority to Palma and [[Badagry]] on the grounds that there were precedents for considering these to be under the authority of Lagos.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=449}}
In a letter of 9 October 1862, Freeman defended his decision to extend his authority to Palma and [[Badagry]] on the grounds that there were precedents for considering these to be under the authority of Lagos.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=449}}
The [[Ogun River]] leading to [[Abeokuta]] was not safe for canoe traffic, with travelers at risk from [[Egba people|Egba]] robbers. For this reason, on 14 November 1862 Freeman called on all British subjects to return from Abeokuta to Lagos, leaving their property, for which the chiefs of Abeokuta would be answerable to the British government.{{sfn|Foreign and Commonwealth}}
The [[Ogun River]] leading to [[Abeokuta]] was not safe for canoe traffic, with travelers at risk from [[Egba people|Egba]] robbers. For this reason, on 14 November 1862 Freeman called on all British subjects to return from Abeokuta to Lagos, leaving their property, for which the chiefs of Abeokuta would be answerable to the British government.{{sfn|Foreign and Commonwealth}}
In 1863 he took an anti-Ijebu and pro-[[Kosoko]] policy, leading to the bombardment of [[Epe, Nigeria|Epe]] by naval vessels.{{sfn|Ayandele|1970|pp=88}}
In 1863, he took an anti-Ijebu and pro-[[Kosoko]] policy, leading to the bombardment of [[Epe, Nigeria|Epe]] by naval vessels.{{sfn|Ayandele|1970|pp=88}}


On 18 February 1862 Freeman signed a treaty with the former ruler of Lagos, King [[Dosunmu|Docemo]], clarifying that he would receive an annual pension of 1,200 bags of cowries for his lifetime.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=421}}
On 18 February 1862, Freeman signed a treaty with the former ruler of Lagos, King [[Dosunmu|Docemo]], clarifying that he would receive an annual pension of 1,200 bags of cowries for his lifetime.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=421}}
He was authorized to appoint a legislative council by a letter dated 13 March 1862.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=441}}
He was authorized to appoint a legislative council by a letter dated 13 March 1862.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=441}}
On 4 March 1863 Freeman enacting an ordinance that made the laws of England effective in the colony.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=443}}
On 4 March 1863, Freeman enacting an ordinance that made the laws of England effective in the colony.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=443}}
On 6 July 1864 his council established a Chief Magistrate's Court to handle civil and criminal cases.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=446}}
On 6 July 1864, his council established a Chief Magistrate's Court to handle civil and criminal cases.{{sfn|Great Britain|pp=446}}


Freeman agreed with the former explorer [[Richard Francis Burton|Richard Burton]], who visited Lagos, that the blacks were more likely to be converted by Islam than by Christianity.{{sfn|Lyons|Lyons|2004|pp=62}}
Freeman agreed with the former explorer [[Richard Francis Burton|Richard Burton]], who visited Lagos, that the blacks were more likely to be converted to Islam than to Christianity.{{sfn|Lyons|Lyons|2004|pp=62}}
He attempted to suppress an attempt by Robert Campbell, a Jamaican of part-Scottish, part-African descent, to establish a newspaper in the colony. He considered it would be "a dangerous instrument in the hands of semi-civilized Negroes".
He attempted to suppress an attempt by [[Robert Campbell (colonist)|Robert Campbell]], a Jamaican of part-Scottish, part-African descent, to establish a newspaper in the colony. He considered it would be "a dangerous instrument in the hands of semi-civilized Negroes".
The British government did not agree, and the first issue of the ''Anglo-African'', Nigeria's first weekly newspaper, appeared on 6 June 1863.{{sfn|Benesch|2004|pp=141}}
The British government did not agree, and the first issue of the ''Anglo-African'', Nigeria's first weekly newspaper, appeared on 6 June 1863.{{sfn|Benesch|2004|pp=141}}
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|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=59cRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA313
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=59cRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA313
|journal=The Gentleman's Magazine |volume=211
|journal=The Gentleman's Magazine |volume=211
|title=Appointments, Preferments and Promotions
|title=Appointments, Preferments and Promotions
|publisher=s.n. |year=1861}}
|publisher=s.n. |year=1861}}
*{{cite book |ref=harv
*{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZK1g1vjZL4C&pg=PA88
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZK1g1vjZL4C&pg=PA88
|title=Holy Johnson, pioneer of African nationalism, 1836-1917
|title=Holy Johnson, pioneer of African nationalism, 1836-1917
|first=Emmanuel Ayankanmi |last=Ayandele
|first=Emmanuel Ayankanmi |last=Ayandele
|publisher=Routledge |year=1970
|publisher=Routledge |year=1970
|ISBN=0-7146-1743-1}}
|isbn=0-7146-1743-1}}
*{{cite book |ref=harv
*{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AazP5n2oJYUC&pg=PA141
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AazP5n2oJYUC&pg=PA141
|title=African diasporas in the New and Old Worlds: consciousness and imagination
|title=African diasporas in the New and Old Worlds: consciousness and imagination
|first=Klaus |last=Benesch
|first=Klaus |last=Benesch
|publisher=Rodopi |year=2004
|publisher=Rodopi |year=2004
|ISBN=90-420-0880-6}}
|isbn=90-420-0880-6}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|Great Britain}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|Great Britain}}
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSdcAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA443
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tSdcAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA443
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|author=Great Britain
|author=Great Britain
|publisher=Ordered to be printed |year=1865}}
|publisher=Ordered to be printed |year=1865}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harv|Foreign and Commonwealth}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|Foreign and Commonwealth}}
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5kAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA381
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5kAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA381
|title=British and foreign state papers, Volume 54
|title=British and foreign state papers, Volume 54
|author=Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|author=Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|publisher=H.M.S.O. |year=1859}}
|publisher=H.M.S.O. |year=1859}}
*{{cite book |ref=harv
*{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LvDB4E7FD_cC&pg=PA41
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LvDB4E7FD_cC&pg=PA41
|title=Nigeria under British rule
|title=Nigeria under British rule
|first=Sir William Nevill Montgomerie |last=Geary
|first=Sir William Nevill Montgomerie |last=Geary
|publisher=Routledge |year=1965
|publisher=Routledge |year=1965
|ISBN=0-7146-1666-4}}
|isbn=0-7146-1666-4}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|London Review}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|London Review}}
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn5NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA795
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn5NAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA795
|title=The London review and weekly journal of politics, literature, art, & society, Volume 3
|title=The London review and weekly journal of politics, literature, art, & society, Volume 3
|year=1861}}
|year=1861}}
*{{cite book |ref=harv
*{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d6OKDA1pXV4C&pg=PA62
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d6OKDA1pXV4C&pg=PA62
|title=Irregular connections: a history of anthropology and sexuality
|title=Irregular connections: a history of anthropology and sexuality
|first1=Andrew Paul |last1=Lyons |first2=Harriet |last2=Lyons
|first1=Andrew Paul |last1=Lyons |first2=Harriet |last2=Lyons
|publisher=U of Nebraska Press |year=2004
|publisher=U of Nebraska Press |year=2004
|ISBN=0-8032-8036-X}}
|isbn=0-8032-8036-X}}
*{{cite journal |ref=harv
*{{cite journal |url=http://www.fwnewman.org/Library/Works/LPO/JRAS-1880.pdf
|url=http://www.fwnewman.org/Library/Works/LPO/JRAS-1880.pdf
|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
|journal=Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
|volume=12
|volume=12
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|first=F.W. |last=Newman
|first=F.W. |last=Newman
|title=Notes on the Libyan Languages
|title=Notes on the Libyan Languages
|accessdate=2011-05-25}}
|access-date=2011-05-25}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Rubin}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.microform.co.uk/guides/R96937.pdf
|url=http://www.microform.co.uk/guides/R96937.pdf
|title=GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO NIGERIA 1862- 1960
|title=GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO NIGERIA 1862- 1960
|first=Neville |last=Rubin
|first=Neville |last=Rubin
|accessdate=2011-05-25}}
|access-date=2011-05-25}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Henry Stanhope}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Freeman, Henry Stanhope}}
[[Category:Lagos]]
[[Category:1865 deaths]]
[[Category:1865 deaths]]
[[Category:Governors of the Lagos Colony]]
[[Category:Governors of the Lagos Colony]]
[[Category:British expatriates in Greece]]
[[Category:British expatriates in the Ottoman Empire]]
[[Category:1831 births]]
[[Category:1830s births]]
[[Category:History of Lagos]]
[[Category:History of Lagos]]
[[Category:People of colonial Nigeria]]
[[Category:People from colonial Nigeria]]

Latest revision as of 21:08, 2 February 2024

Henry Stanhope Freeman
Governor of Lagos Colony
In office
22 January 1862 – April 1865
Preceded byWilliam McCoskry
Succeeded byJohn Hawley Glover
Personal details
Born c. 1831
DiedApril 1865
NationalityBritish

Henry Stanhope Freeman (died April 1865) was the first Governor of the Lagos Colony, serving from 22 January 1862 to April 1865.

Background

[edit]

Freeman was British Vice-Consul at Ghadames in Libya, and while there put together notes on one of the Tuareg languages.[1] Freeman was elected a member of the Royal Asiatic Society on 14 December 1861.[2] He was also a member of the Anthropological society, attending and speaking at some of the meetings but not contributing to the society's publications.[3] Before being appointed Governor of Lagos, Freeman was British Vice-Consul at Janina in the Ottoman Empire.[4]

Lagos governor

[edit]

The Lagos colony had been established by an enforced treaty in August 1861. When Freeman arrived in January 1862 to take over from acting Governor William McCoskry, the colony included Lagos Island and a small amount of mainland territory to the east and west. The rulers of the interior states were not unfriendly to the British, but were constantly fighting each other, making trade dangerous.[5] In his Annual Report for 1863, Freeman said that trade had almost stopped altogether due to the war between Ibadan and Abeokuta.[6]

In a letter of 9 October 1862, Freeman defended his decision to extend his authority to Palma and Badagry on the grounds that there were precedents for considering these to be under the authority of Lagos.[7] The Ogun River leading to Abeokuta was not safe for canoe traffic, with travelers at risk from Egba robbers. For this reason, on 14 November 1862 Freeman called on all British subjects to return from Abeokuta to Lagos, leaving their property, for which the chiefs of Abeokuta would be answerable to the British government.[8] In 1863, he took an anti-Ijebu and pro-Kosoko policy, leading to the bombardment of Epe by naval vessels.[9]

On 18 February 1862, Freeman signed a treaty with the former ruler of Lagos, King Docemo, clarifying that he would receive an annual pension of 1,200 bags of cowries for his lifetime.[10] He was authorized to appoint a legislative council by a letter dated 13 March 1862.[11] On 4 March 1863, Freeman enacting an ordinance that made the laws of England effective in the colony.[12] On 6 July 1864, his council established a Chief Magistrate's Court to handle civil and criminal cases.[13]

Freeman agreed with the former explorer Richard Burton, who visited Lagos, that the blacks were more likely to be converted to Islam than to Christianity.[14] He attempted to suppress an attempt by Robert Campbell, a Jamaican of part-Scottish, part-African descent, to establish a newspaper in the colony. He considered it would be "a dangerous instrument in the hands of semi-civilized Negroes". The British government did not agree, and the first issue of the Anglo-African, Nigeria's first weekly newspaper, appeared on 6 June 1863.[15]

Freeman suffered from ill-health, and was often forced to be absent. In his last two years his responsibilities were assumed by Captain William Rice Mulliner and then by Captain John Hawley Glover. He died in April 1865.[5] Freeman was thirty-four at the time of his death.[3]

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Henry Stanhope Freeman (1862). A grammatical sketch of the Temahuq or Towarek language. Harrison.

References

[edit]

Sources