George Taubman Goldie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir George Goldie
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| President of the Royal Geographical Society | |
| In office 22 May 1905 – 25 May 1908 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Clements Markham |
| Succeeded by | Leonard Darwin |
| Governor of the Royal Niger Company | |
| In office 10 July 1886 – 31 December 1899 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
George Taubman Goldie
20 May 1846 Douglas, Isle of Man |
| Died | 25 August 1925 (aged 79) London, Middlesex, England |
| Resting place | Brompton Cemetery |
| Spouse |
Matilda Catherine Elliott
(m. 1870; |
| Children | Alice Goldie-Taubman Valentine Francis Goldie-Taubman |
| Awards | Livingstone Medal (1906) |
Sir George Dashwood Taubman Goldie (born May 20, 1846 – died August 20, 1925) was an important administrator from the Isle of Man. He played a huge part in creating the country we know today as Nigeria. His work was similar to that of Cecil Rhodes in other parts of Africa, but Goldie preferred to stay out of the spotlight.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
George Goldie came from an old Scottish family. He was born in Douglas, Isle of Man. His father, John Taubman Goldie-Taubman, was a well-known speaker in the local government. George later changed his last name back to Goldie in 1887.
He studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, which is a famous military school. For about two years, he worked as an engineer in the army. George Goldie was also an atheist, which was quite unusual for someone in his time.
In 1870, he married Matilda Catherine Elliott. He loved to travel and explored many parts of Africa. He first visited the Niger River area in 1877. This trip sparked his big idea for the future.
Building a New Company
Goldie had a bold plan: he wanted to add the unknown lands around the lower and middle Niger River to the British Empire. He spent over 20 years working to make this happen. His method was to bring back the idea of "chartered companies." These were special companies given permission by the government to rule and trade in new lands. The most famous one was the British East India Company.
His first step was to bring all the British trading groups in the Niger area together. He succeeded in 1879, forming the United African Company.
In 1881, Goldie asked the British government for a special charter. To make his company stronger, he increased its money from £250,000 to £1,000,000. The company was renamed the National African Company. They quickly set up many trading posts along the Niger River.
Dealing with Rivals
At this time, French traders also tried to set up businesses on the river. This made it hard for Goldie's company to claim land. But Goldie bought out the French traders in 1884. This meant that by the time of the Berlin Conference in 1885, Goldie could proudly announce that only the British flag flew on the lower Niger. The British government also declared the Niger coast a British protectorate (a protected area).
Goldie and his agents worked hard to make agreements with local chiefs. They signed over 400 treaties with leaders of the lower Niger and the Hausa people. Finally, in July 1886, the British government gave the company its charter. The National African Company became the Royal Niger Company. Goldie became its vice-governor, and later, in 1895, he became the governor. He was the main person guiding the company's future.
Facing Challenges
Building Nigeria as a British territory wasn't easy. Goldie faced problems from both French and German explorers and politicians. From 1884 to 1890, Otto von Bismarck, a powerful German leader, was a strong opponent. He tried hard to get the lower Niger basin and Lake Chad for Germany.
German explorers tried to make treaties for Germany in the area. One German agent, Herr Hoenigsberg, even tried to cause trouble in the company's lands. He was arrested and sent out of the country. Bismarck then demanded money from the company.
Bismarck also pushed the British government to divide the land, which would have made Britain lose a valuable part of the company's territory. But Bismarck lost his power in March 1890. After that, Britain and Germany made an agreement in July, which helped settle the borders between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Goldie also worked to stop France from expanding into Nigeria from the Republic of the Congo. By giving Germany a long, narrow strip of land near Lake Chad, he created a barrier against French expeditions. Later, France tried to expand from the western side, near Dahomey, but Goldie's efforts helped protect Nigeria's borders.
The End of the Company
Some local leaders, especially the Fula people, were not happy with the company. In 1897, Goldie personally led a military expedition against the Muslim states of Nupe and Ilorin. This mission was very successful and brought peace to the region.
However, in the next year, the border issues with France became very serious. The British government had to step in. Goldie played a key role in these talks, making sure Britain kept control of the entire navigable part of the lower Niger River.
It became clear that a private company couldn't compete with the powerful, government-backed protectorates of France and Germany. So, on January 1, 1900, the Royal Niger Company handed over its territories to the British government. The government paid the company £865,000. These lands, along with a smaller coastal area, became the two protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria.
Later Years and Legacy
After the company's territories were transferred, Goldie continued to be involved in important matters. In 1903–1904, he visited Rhodesia to look into the calls for self-government there. He also served on royal commissions that investigated military preparations and the sale of war supplies.
Sir George Goldie passed away in 1925 at the age of 79. He is buried in Brompton Cemetery in London. He had two children.
Honours and Recognition
Goldie received many honours for his work.
- In 1905, he became the President of the Royal Geographical Society, a position he held for three years.
- In 1908, he was chosen as an Alderman for the London County Council.
- He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1887.
- He became a Privy Councillor in 1898.
- He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1902.
- He received honorary degrees from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in 1897.
- In 1906, he was given the Livingstone Medal for his contributions to geography.
A rare West African venomous snake, the Pseudohaje goldii (Goldie's tree cobra), was named in his honour in 1895.
Images for kids
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Gravestone, Brompton Cemetery, London
