Colonial Land and Emigration Commission facts for kids
The Colonial Land and Emigration Commission (CLEC) was a special group set up by the British government. Its main job was to help people move from Britain to different parts of the British Empire, especially to places like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Think of it as a travel agency run by the government, but for people wanting to start a new life in a new country!
Queen Victoria officially started the CLEC on January 14, 1840. This new commission took over the work of two older groups: the South Australian Colonization Commission and the Agent-General for Emigration.
One important person in this new group was Thomas Frederick Elliot. He had been the Agent-General for Emigration since 1837 and became a member of the CLEC.
Most of the people the CLEC helped moved to places that became known as "settler colonies." These included New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia (all in Australia). Smaller groups also went to British colonies in New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, and the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.
The commission kept track of how many people moved and where they went. They published reports about these numbers in newspapers. They also created a special newspaper called the Colonization Circular, which was published from at least 1843 to 1870. This paper likely gave advice and information to people thinking about moving.
Helping People on Their Journey
In 1852, an Irish surgeon named Andrew Sexton Gray joined the commission. He became a "surgeon-superintendent." This meant he traveled with the migrants on their ships. His job was to be the main doctor on board and make sure everyone stayed healthy and well-behaved during the long journey.
Name Change and End of the Commission
From 1856, the commission was often called the "Emigration Commission." This happened after the Australian colonies gained more control over selling land in their own territories. Even though its shorter name was used more often, its full name technically stayed the same until it closed down.
The Colonial Land and Emigration Commission officially stopped its work on March 31, 1878. Its staff and any remaining duties were then moved to another government department called the Colonial Office.
