Nicholas Loney facts for kids

Nicholas Loney (born 1826 in Plymouth, United Kingdom) was an English businessman. He was also the British Empire's vice-consul in the city of Iloílo, Philippines. He passed away on April 23, 1869, while exploring Mount Kanlaon on Negros Island.

Nicholas Loney's Early Life

Nicholas Loney was the younger son of Admiral Robert Loney, who was in the Royal Navy. His mother was Ann Condy. He left home when he was 16 years old.

First, he traveled a lot in South America. There, he became very good at speaking Spanish. He then returned to Plymouth, England, but only for a short time. After that, he went to Asia. He eventually settled in Singapore. He worked there for a trading company called Ker & Co.

Loney's Business Career

When the Philippines started trading more with other countries, Ker & Co. sent Nicholas Loney to Manila. He became well-known among the business people there.

In 1855, the city of Iloílo was opened for international trade. The next year, on July 11, 1856, Loney was chosen as the first British Vice Consul in Iloílo.

Changing Industries in Iloílo

In the Philippines, large farms called haciendas were common. Their way of life was shaped by Spanish rule for over 300 years. However, the hacienda system really grew in the 1850s because of Loney.

Nicholas Loney wanted to change Iloílo's economy. He aimed to stop the textile industry there. This industry made fabrics called Hiligaynon: habol Ilonggo. It had existed even before the Spanish arrived. Loney wanted to move workers and money from making textiles to making sugar. This sugar production would happen on the nearby Negros Island.

The Port of Iloilo also started receiving many cheap British textiles. These changes helped England and Scotland's textile factories. At the same time, they met Europe's growing need for sugar.

Boosting Sugar Production

The price of sugar was going up in Manila. Loney made money from both the hacenderos (farm owners) and the sacadas (sugar cane workers). He gave loans and bought modern machines from Europe through his company, Loney & Ker Co. This helped make sugar production more efficient on Panay and Negros islands.

He also encouraged improvements at the Port of Iloilo. These improvements helped export raw materials. He supported building up the western bank of the Iloilo River. He also helped build Progreso Street, which is now Isidro de la Rama Street. This street became home to many sugar warehouses, including his own.

Nicholas Loney's Death

Nicholas Loney died on April 23, 1869. He was exploring Mount Kanlaon on the island of Negros when he passed away. He was buried by the seashore under some coconut trees. This spot is now Rizal Street in Iloilo City.

Nicholas Loney's Legacy

In March 1904, the Iloilo City Council decided to name the quay along the Iloilo River as Loney Waterfront (Spanish: Muelle Loney). This quay is part of the Port of Iloilo. In March 1981, a statue of Loney was put up at the end of the waterfront.

Long-Term Effects

Loney's actions, even if he didn't mean to, created a long-lasting social problem on Panay and Negros. This problem involved conflicts between different groups of people. Even today, attempts to change the hacienda system through land-reform laws have not been very successful.

When the Laurel–Langley Agreement ended, the sugar industry in Negros faced problems. This gave President Ferdinand Marcos a chance to reduce the power of the hacenderos. They used to have a lot of influence in national politics. However, this opportunity was not fully used, and big changes did not happen.

Images for kids

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  The Iloilo Customs House along Muelle Loney, with the Iloilo River in front.

See also

In Spanish: Nicholas Loney para niños