Albert Henry Hime facts for kids

Sir Albert Henry Hime (born August 29, 1842 – died September 13, 1919) was an important officer in the Royal Engineers, which is part of the British Army. Later, he became a well-known politician in the Colony of Natal, a British colony in South Africa. He was even the leader, or "Premier," of Natal. He was also honored as a Knight Commander and became a Privy Counsellor.

Early Life and Building Things

Albert Henry Hime was born in a place called Kilcoole in County Wicklow, Ireland. He went to college at Trinity College Dublin.

In May 1866, he married Josephine Searle. A few months later, he moved to Bermuda to work on a big building project. He was tasked with designing and building a causeway there. A causeway is like a road built over water, connecting two pieces of land.

Lieutenant Hime started planning the causeway in 1867. It took four years to finish this important project. When it was done, Hime gave a report to Governor Lefroy in front of about 6,000 people. This was about half of Bermuda's population at the time! Hime described his work as "solid and substantial," meaning it was strong and well-built. He said he didn't add fancy decorations because that would have made it cost more money. The causeway cost £27,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then.

Governor Lefroy praised Hime, saying his name would become part of Bermuda's history. He also said that the young lieutenant would have a very promising career. Hime was given a special gift of silver dishes from the government for his excellent work.

In 1878, Hime designed and built the headquarters for the Natal Mounted Police in South Africa. His son, Charles Hime, later played cricket for the Natal team and even played Test cricket for the South Africa national team in 1896.

Leader of Natal

Becoming Premier

On June 9, 1899, Hime was chosen to be the Premier of Natal. A Premier is like the head of the government or the chief minister of a region. He held this important position until August 17, 1903.

His time as Premier included the years of the Second Boer War. This war took place in the South African colonies between October 1899 and June 1902. When the war ended with the Peace of Vereeniging, Hime spoke about the peace settlement in September 1902. He said that even though there was some sadness about those who fought against the British, everyone needed to live together. He believed that the Boers, who were Dutch-speaking settlers, would settle down and become loyal citizens.

Royal Events and Honors

As Premier, Sir Albert Hime traveled to London in 1902. He attended the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, which was a very grand event. He also went to a special meeting called the Conference of Colonial Premiers. This was where leaders from different British colonies met to discuss important matters.

During his visit to the United Kingdom in 1902, he received several special honors. He was given honorary degrees (like special titles from universities) from the University of Cambridge in May, the University of Edinburgh in July, and the University of Dublin later that year. He was also given the "Freedom of the City" of Edinburgh on July 26, 1902. This is a special honor given to respected people.

On August 11, 1902, he was appointed a Privy Counsellor. This is a high honor given by the King, recognizing his important role and service.

Legacy

The small town of Himeville in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, a region in South Africa, is named after him. This shows his lasting impact as Premier of Natal.