Henry Barkly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Henry Barkly GCMG KCB FRS FRGS
4th Governor of British Guiana
In office 24 February 1849 – 11 May 1853
Monarch	Victoria
Preceded by	Henry Light
Succeeded by	Philip Wodehouse
Governor of Jamaica
In office 1853–1856
Monarch	Victoria
Preceded by	Charles Edward Grey
Succeeded by	Charles Henry Darling
2nd Governor of Victoria
In office 26 December 1856 – 10 September 1863
Preceded by	Sir Charles Hotham
Succeeded by	Sir Charles Darling
10th Governor of Mauritius
In office 21 August 1863 – 3 June 1870
Preceded by	Sir William Stevenson
Succeeded by	Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon
14th Governor of Cape Colony
In office 31 December 1870 – 31 March 1877
Monarch	Victoria
Preceded by	Sir Philip Wodehouse
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Frere
Personal details
Born	(1815-02-24)24 February 1815 Highbury, Middlesex, England, UK
Died	20 October 1898(1898-10-20) (aged 83) South Kensington, London, England, UK
Resting place	Brompton Cemetery
Spouses	Elizabeth Helen Timins (1840–1857) Anne Maria Pratt (1860–1898)

Sir Henry Barkly (born February 24, 1815 – died October 20, 1898) was an important British politician and governor. He served as governor in many different parts of the British Empire. These included British Guiana, Jamaica, Victoria (Australia), Mauritius, and the Cape Colony. He was also a big supporter of science.

Early Life and Education

Henry Barkly was born on February 24, 1815, in Highbury, which is now part of London. He was the oldest son of Susannah Louisa and Æneas Barkly. His father was a merchant who traded with the West Indies.

Henry went to Bruce Castle School in Tottenham. This school had a special way of teaching. It made him interested in science and numbers for his whole life.

After school, Barkly worked for his father. His family had strong ties to the West Indies. His mother's family came from Jamaica. His father's business focused on trade there. The family also owned land in British Guiana.

In 1834, the British government ended slavery in its colonies. Henry's father received money from the government because of this change. When his father passed away in 1836, Henry, at age 20, inherited his father's estate. He was involved in the family business until 1843.

Political Career

Henry Barkly became a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons. He was elected for the area of Leominster on April 26, 1845. He was the only candidate, so he won without anyone running against him.

Barkly was a supporter of Prime Minister Robert Peel. When Peel's government ended, Barkly's political future seemed uncertain. So, he was happy to accept a new job. In 1848, he became the governor of British Guiana.

Governorships

Governor of British Guiana

Barkly became the Governor of British Guiana on February 12, 1849. His family's connections to the West Indies helped him a lot in this role. He was praised for his skill in fixing the colony's money problems. He also brought in workers from Asia to help the economy.

Governor of Jamaica

In 1853, Barkly moved to Jamaica. He served as its governor for three years.

Governor of Victoria, Australia

In November 1856, Barkly was chosen to be the Governor of Victoria, Australia. He arrived in Melbourne on December 24, 1856. One of his main goals was to create a stable government. He achieved this by helping to form the government led by James McCulloch.

Barkly was known for supporting good causes and intellectual groups. He helped start the Royal Society of Victoria and was its president from 1860 to 1863. He also helped create the National Gallery of Victoria, the Acclimatization Society, and the National Observatory.

Governor of Mauritius and the Cape Colony

From November 26, 1863, to June 4, 1870, he was the Governor of Mauritius.

In August 1870, he was sent to the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa. He became the Governor of the Cape Colony and the British High Commissioner for the region. He helped bring in "responsible government" to the Cape. This meant the local government had more control over its own affairs. He worked closely with John Molteno, the Cape's first elected Prime Minister.

Barkly served in South Africa until 1877. He played a key role in helping the Cape develop its own liberal traditions. He also supported local leaders who did not want the region's states to be forced into a federation. He believed the Cape's fair laws for all people were important. He wanted these laws to grow stronger.

He passed away in London on October 20, 1898. He is buried in Brompton Cemetery.

Family Life

In 1840, Henry Barkly married Elizabeth Helen Timins. Elizabeth was an artist who loved plants. She collected plants with her husband and drew pictures for him. She died in 1857. They had a daughter named Emily, who also drew plants and collected specimens.

Three years after Elizabeth's death, Barkly married Anne Maria Pratt. She was also a botanist, someone who studies plants. His oldest son, Arthur Cecil Stuart Barkly, worked as his father's private secretary in Mauritius and the Cape. Arthur later became the last British governor of Heligoland.

Honours and Awards

Henry Barkly received several important awards for his service.

• On July 18, 1853, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Bath.
• In 1864, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very old and respected group for scientists.
• In 1870, he became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS).
• On March 9, 1874, he was given the highest rank in the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).

Legacy

Many places were named after Sir Henry Barkly to honor him:

• A gold field in Victoria, Australia, was named Barkly in 1861.
• The South African towns of Barkly East and Barkly West, and the Barkly Pass, are named after him.
• Several main streets, like Barkly Street in Ballarat East and Ararat, Victoria, were named for him.
• The Barkly River in Victoria, Australia, is also named in his honor.
• A bell on top of the Ballarat Fire Brigade tower was named "Lady Barkly" in 1863.