Alexander Rankin Dunlop facts for kids
Alexander Rankin Dunlop (born September 23, 1868, in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Canada; died August 8, 1946, in Worthing, England) was an important British official. He became the first British Resident in Tawau, a town in North Borneo (which is now part of Malaysia).
Dunlop's Early Life
Dunlop was born on September 23, 1868. He was the third of four children in a Scottish family. His father, Henry Dunlop, moved from Glasgow, Scotland, to Canada in 1864 with his wife, Sarah Mackay.
The Dunlop family lived in New York in 1880. His father worked there as a cotton spinner. Later, the family moved to California to try farming.
Working in North Borneo
In 1885, Dunlop moved to North Borneo. He started working for the North Borneo Chartered Company. This company managed the area at that time. He began as an administrative officer.
In October 1886, he went with Governor William Hood Treacher on a trip. They inspected areas on the West Coast and in Silam. In 1888, he left the company for a short time. But he returned in 1890 as a second-level officer. He worked in the Labuk and Sugut areas. This helped him learn a lot about the local tribes. He even learned about the tribes connected to Mat Salleh.
During this time, he joined several expeditions. These included trips to Gunsayat (1889), Labuk and Sugut (1890), and Omadal (1892). His detailed notes from these trips are now important records. They help us understand the local groups in North Borneo. He arrived in Sandakan on August 24, 1891. He was an assistant resident for Penungah and the interior.
Between 1892 and 1903, Dunlop held many government jobs in or near Tawau. He also helped deal with local unrest. For example, he was part of efforts to bring peace in 1896 and 1898. These were against groups led by Mat Salleh. He also helped in 1901 against Kamunta.
After a company dinner in London in late 1897, he traveled back to North Borneo. He went with William Clark Cowie. He likely helped Cowie in talks with Mat Salleh. Two years later, he was part of an attack on Mat Salleh's fort in Tambunan. Mat Salleh was killed there on December 31, 1900. Dunlop kept a detailed diary of this battle. His diary is now kept in the Sabah State Archives.
At the end of 1901, Dunlop became the Resident of the West Coast. This was a very important job. He was the second-highest official in North Borneo, after the governor. He had special benefits, like trips to London. He attended a company dinner there in December 1903. He then took a long break before returning on April 1, 1904. In May 1905, his area of management grew even larger. The West Coast Residency was the company's biggest and most important area.
Newspapers from that time called Dunlop "the jungle man." This shows he was very good at living in the tropical jungle. He also earned the respect of the local tribes.
Later Years and Passing
In November 1910, Alexander Dunlop married Myfanwy Davonport Shrubsole. They had a daughter named Hazel. In 1914, his wife's health became poor. This made him leave his job at the North Borneo Chartered Company. He left Sandakan for Europe on March 28.
He returned to North Borneo on July 21, 1927. The next year, he started a company. He wanted to search for gold in Borneo. However, his attempts to find gold were not successful. Dunlop passed away on August 8, 1946. He died in Worthing, West Sussex, England.
His Lasting Legacy
One of the two main streets in Tawau is named after him. It is called Dunlop Street.
