Herbert Macaulay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Herbert Macaulay
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| Born |
Olayinka Badmus Macaulay
14 November 1864 |
| Died | 7 May 1946 (aged 81) Lagos, British Nigeria
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| Resting place | Ikoyi Cemetery |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Citizenship | Nigeria |
| Education | Church Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos Plymouth, England |
| Alma mater | Royal Institute of British Architects, London Trinity College of Music |
| Occupation | politician, engineer, architect, journalist, musician. |
| Years active | 1891–1946 |
| Known for | Nigerian nationalism |
| Political party | Nigerian National Democratic Party National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons |
| Spouse(s) |
Caroline Pratt
(m. 1898; died 1899) |
| Children | Helena Victoria Maria Macaulay Smith (daughter) Sarah Abigail Idowu Macaulay Adadevoh (daughter) Oliver Ogedengbe Macaulay (son) Frank Montague Macaulay (son) Enitan Macaulay (daughter) Florence Macaulay (daughter) Tokunbo Macaulay(son) Samuel Macaulay (son) |
| Parent(s) | Thomas Babington Macaulay (father) Abigail Crowther (mother) |
| Relatives | Samuel Ajayi Crowther (maternal grandfather) Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh (grandson) |
Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay (14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946) was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist, and musician. Many Nigerians see him as the founder of Nigerian nationalism, which is the idea of Nigeria becoming an independent nation.
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Early Life and Family
Herbert Macaulay was born in Broad Street, Lagos, on 14 November 1864. His parents were Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Crowther.
His parents' families were originally from what is now Nigeria. They were taken to Sierra Leone by the British, but later returned to Nigeria. Herbert's father, Thomas Babington Macaulay, founded the first secondary school in Nigeria, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos. His mother, Abigail Crowther, was the daughter of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a very important figure in Nigerian history.
Education and Skills
Herbert Macaulay started primary school in 1869. He attended St Paul's Breadfruit School and CMS Faji School in Lagos until 1877. From 1877 to 1880, he went to CMS Grammar School, Lagos for his secondary education.
In 1880, he traveled across the Niger River on a trade and missionary journey. After this, he worked as a clerical assistant in the Department of Public Works in Lagos. With support from the government, Macaulay went to England in 1890 to continue his studies.
From 1891 to 1894, he studied civil engineering in Plymouth, England. He also became a graduate of the Royal Institute of British Architects in London in 1893. Besides his engineering and architecture skills, Macaulay was a talented musician. He earned certificates in music and violin playing from prestigious colleges in London.
Professional Career
When Macaulay returned to Lagos in September 1893, he worked for the colonial government as a surveyor of Crown Lands. He left this job in 1898 because he disagreed with how the British ruled the Lagos Colony.
After leaving government service, he became a private surveyor. He designed and valued many important buildings in Lagos.
Personal Life
In December 1898, Macaulay married Caroline Pratt. Sadly, Caroline died in August 1899 during childbirth. Macaulay later had several children.
He was known for being the first Nigerian to own a motor car. Macaulay was also a very social person in Lagos. He organized concerts and film shows at his home, which he called "Kirsten Hall." People nicknamed him "Wizard of Kirsten Hall" because he was very good at finding out secret information. He had a network of people who helped him get details from colonial government meetings, which often appeared in newspapers he was connected with.
Standing Up to British Rule
Herbert Macaulay became a strong voice against many of the British colonial government's policies. He believed that the British were not truly looking out for the interests of Nigerians. He famously said that the British only cared about their own profits.
In 1908, he revealed problems with how the British handled railway money. In 1919, he successfully argued for Nigerian chiefs whose land had been taken by the colonial government. This led to the government having to pay compensation to the chiefs.
Macaulay also opposed colonial taxes meant to fund water supply in Lagos. He argued that people should not be taxed without having a say in their government. He supported the traditional leaders, like the Oba of Lagos, who had lost much of their power under British rule.
A famous case that boosted Macaulay's reputation was the Oluwa Land case. A traditional chief, Amodu Tijani Oluwa, challenged the government taking his family's land without payment. Macaulay helped Oluwa take the case to London, where they won. This was a big victory for Nigerians.
To share his political ideas, Macaulay helped start the Nigerian Daily News newspaper. He used it to write articles criticizing colonial policies and his opponents.
On 24 June 1923, he founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), which was Nigeria's first political party. This party won all the elections in 1923, 1928, and 1933. The NNDP aimed to promote democracy and increase Nigerian involvement in the country's development.
Challenges and Later Years
Macaulay faced some legal challenges during his life. He was prevented from running for public office because of past convictions.
One notable incident was the "Gunpowder Plot Case." Macaulay's newspaper published a rumor that the British government planned to harm the popular Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. For this, Macaulay was sentenced to six months in prison. This imprisonment, despite his age, made him even more popular among Nigerians.
Macaulay had a strong rivalry with Henry Rawlingson Carr, another important figure in Lagos. They often disagreed publicly, and Macaulay used his newspaper to criticize Carr.
In 1944, Macaulay co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) with Nnamdi Azikiwe. This organization aimed to unite Nigerians to demand independence from British rule.
Herbert Macaulay fell ill in Kano in 1946 and later died in Lagos. He was buried at Ikoyi Cemetery on 11 May 1946. After his death, Nnamdi Azikiwe took over the leadership of the NCNC and later became Nigeria's first president.
Legacy
Herbert Macaulay's personal papers, including political writings, newspapers, and photographs, are kept at the University of Ibadan Library. They provide valuable insights into his life and the history of Nigeria.
Macaulay was honored on the 1 Naira banknote from 1979 until 1991, when it was replaced by a coin also showing his image. In 2019, a Nigerian film called The Herbert Macaulay Affair was released, covering about 30 years of his life.
Images for kids
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Yo-Olayinka Badmus Macaulay.ogg
Audio pronunciation of Olayinka Badmus Macaulay.
