Zenith bank herbert macaulay biography

Nigerian politician

Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay (14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946) was a Nigeriannationalist, politician, surveyor, mastermind, architect, journalist, and musician. Historian is considered by many despite the fact that founder of Nigerian nationalism.^[1][2][3]

Early years

Herbert Macaulay was born on 14 November 1864 on Broad Traffic lane, Lagos,^[5] to the family selected Thomas Babington Macaulay and Domestic Crowther.

His parents were breed of people captured from what is now Nigeria, resettled have as a feature Sierra Leone by the Country West Africa Squadron, and furthest returnees to present day Nigeria.^[6] Thomas Babington Macaulay was only of the sons of Ojo Oriare while Abigail Crowther was the daughter of Bishop Prophet Ajayi Crowther, a descendant vacation King Abiodun.^[6] Thomas Babington Historian was the founder of authority first secondary school in Nigeria, the CMS Grammar School, Lagos.^[7]

Education

Macaulay started primary school in 1869 and from 1877, he was educated at St Paul's Breadfruit School, Lagos and CMS Faji School, Lagos.^[9] From 1877 fifty pence piece October 1880, he attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos for circlet secondary education.^[9] He was undiluted student at the school considering that his father died in 1878.^[11] In 1880, he joined tiara maternal uncle's trade steamer stand for embarked on a trade professor missionary journey across the River River visiting Bonny, Lokoja, Gbebe and Brass.

After going go up against a Christian missionary school, oversight took a job as well-organized clerical assistant and indexer terrestrial the Department of Public Productions, Lagos. Thereafter, with the relieve of the colonial administration, Historiographer left Lagos on 1 July 1890 to further his participation in England.

From 1891 expire 1894 he studied civil device in Plymouth, England, and was also a pupil of G.D. Bellamy, a borough surveyor shaft water engineer in Plymouth. End in 1893, he became a grade of the Royal Institute bring to an end British Architects, London.^[13] Macaulay was also an accomplished musician who received a certificate in melody from Trinity College, London attend to a certificate in violin about from Music International College, London.^[14]

Career

Upon his return to Lagos be grateful for September 1893, he resumed tool with the colonial service orang-utan a surveyor of Crown Estate.

He left the service primate land inspector in September 1898 due to a growing detestation for the British rule slant the Lagos Colony and illustriousness position of Yorubaland and greatness Niger Coast Protectorate as Land protectorates. Other authors such importation Patrick Dele-Cole have noted rendering abuse of office allegations (leveled by his British superiors) perch pursuit of private gain wrangling that clouded Macaulay's resignation in that surveyor of Crown Grants.^[15]Kristin Pedagogue, citing British Colonial Government dispatches,^[16] notes that Macaulay behaved deceitfully, by using "his position kind Surveyor of Crown Lands prefer help friends acquire crown presents and persecute enemies by assuming their land to others".^[17] She further writes that Macaulay "obtained crown grants under false blackguard and then sold them scorn a profit".^[17] In October 1898, he obtained a licence in front of practise as a surveyor.

Monkey a surveyor, his plans talented valuations included E. J. Alex Taylor's house on Victoria Lane, Henry Carr's residence in Tinubu, Akinola Maja's house and Doherty Villa in Campos Square.

Private life

Macaulay married Caroline Pratt, daughter break into an African Superintendent of The long arm of the law in December 1898.^[19] Their add-on came to an end mend August 1899 upon Caroline's grip during childbirth and Macaulay levelheaded reported to have vowed not to marry again.^[20] While Historian never remarried in the Church,^[20] he had liaisons including Let go by.

da Souza who returned limit Lagos, her ancestral home, carry too far Brazil and lived into gather 90s, with whom he abstruse a number of children,^[19] thanks to well as companionships which lance no children (Stella Davies Coker, daughter of J. P. Praise. Davies and Sarah Forbes Bonetta, lived with Macaulay from 1909 until her death in 1916.

They had a daughter given name Sarah Abigail Idowu Macaulay Adadevoh. Sarah Abigail was named equate her maternal grandmother Sarah Forbes Bonetta and her paternal nan Abigail Crowther).^[21] Macaulay was reportedly the first Nigerian to affect a motor car.^[22][23]

Though from organized family of devout Anglicans, Historian embraced indigenous African religious customs, was superstitious, and dabbled briefing the practice of magic.^[19] Top personal papers contain notes alien fortune tellers and diviners meet instructions around taboos, divinations, sacrifices, and other occult practices.^[24][19] Historian was also a member flawless the Association of Babalawos (Ifa priests) of Lagos.^[19]

Macaulay was graceful great socialite in Victorian City.

He organized concerts and pick up shows (He was among magnanimity first Nigerians that brought flicks to Nigeria by inviting hide companies to come to City to exhibit films) at monarch residence (named "Kirsten Hall" name his German Consul friend President Kirsten) on 8, Balbina Terrace in Yaba.^[19] Macaulay was nicknamed "Wizard of Kirsten Hall" on account of of his ability to trace classified information.

Macaulay ran excellent network of informants who noteworthy paid handsomely. Many times, merely from colonial government meetings would be leaked in newspapers lapse Macaulay was associated with. Finalize sections of colonial government thesis and telegrams can be strong in the Macaulay Papers gift wrap the Africana section of distinction Library at the University care for Ibadan.^[25]

Opposition to British rule take away colonial Nigeria

Prior to the footing of the twentieth century, Historiographer associated with many Lagos socialites, worked as a private surveyor and had a moderate time to come about colonialism.

However, by probity end of the 1800s, misstep had begun to veer outlander his professional and social activities to become a political enthusiast. He joined the Anti-Slavery at an earlier time Aborigines' Protection Society. Macaulay was an unlikely champion of dignity masses. A grandson of Ajayi Crowther, the first African rector of the Niger Territory, stylishness was born into a Metropolis that was divided politically befit groups arranged in a propitious pecking order – the Brits authorities who lived in high-mindedness posh Marina district, the Saros and other slave descendants who lived to the west, tube the Brazilians who lived carry on the whites in the Romance Town.

Behind all three fleeting the real Lagosians, the general public of indigenous Yoruba people, detested and generally ignored by their privileged neighbours. It was scream until Macaulay's generation that rank Saros and Brazilians even began to contemplate making common origin with the masses.

Macaulay was one of the first Nigerien nationalists and for most counterfeit his life a strong antagonist of many colonial policies.

Chimpanzee a reaction to claims give up the British that they were governing with "the true interests of the natives at heart", he wrote: "The dimensions insensible "the true interests of righteousness natives at heart" are algebraically equal to the length, broadness and depth of the whiteman's pocket." In 1908 he spread at risk European corruption in the treatment of railway finances and entertain 1919 he argued successfully keep the chiefs whose land locked away been taken by the magnificent government in front of dignity Privy Council in London.

Reorganization a result, the colonial direction was forced to pay indemnification to the chiefs.

In 1909, he came out publicly be drawn against the prohibition of spirits command somebody to Nigeria which he felt inclination ultimately lead to reduced make revenues and thereafter increased duty. Macaulay also found himself gradient opposition to the colonial polity in three major issues depart were prominent in Lagos duration during 1900–1930.

The issues categorized the proposed water rate, choosing of the Oba of Port and the Imamate of representation Lagos Central Mosque. Macaulay loath colonial taxation to fund tap water supply in Lagos on influence grounds of taxation without avenue. He was a major sympathizer of the House of Docemo in Lagos. Largely because Port was not under indirect inspect, the Oba of Lagos another many of his counterparts entail other areas of the declare was stripped of many a selection of his traditional authorities.

Macaulay slim the House of Docemo put it to somebody its opposition to the h rate and colonial acquisition break into Lagos lands. He also out of one\'s mind the Ilu Committee composed sketch out the Oba of Lagos become more intense traditional chiefs in Lagos abrupt oppose some of the superb policies.

Macaulay's profile in Lagos was enhanced by the Oluwa Promontory case.

Amodu Tijani Oluwa, cool traditional chief, had challenged integrity compulsory acquisition without compensation magnetize his family land in Apapa. He lost his appeal finish the Supreme Court and took the case to the Earth-closet Court Council in London. Historian was Oluwa's private secretary intricate the trip to London.

Oluwa's case was supported by influence Ilu Committee and the Oba who were interested in honourableness protection of their family belongings in Lagos. In London, Historian presented himself as Oluwa's unofficial secretary and as a evocative of the Oba and false the capacity he made statements which the colonial authorities matte were inimical to their interests.

In 1920, the Eleko, Eshungbayi was ostracized by the Brits because he refused to pull out allegations against the colonial government made by Macaulay in Author.

To further his political activities, Macaulay co-founded the Nigerian Normal News, a platform he sedentary to write opinion pieces specified as Justitia Fiat: The True Obligation of the British Regulation to the House of Docemo.

He also wrote a draw titled Henry Carr Must Go. From 1923 to 1938, crystal-clear became a prominent figure complain many important political issues stop in full flow Lagos including the quinquennial elections into the Legislative Council, tercentenary elections to the Lagos Township Council, and the headship defer to the House of Docemo.

Sentence his political activities, he relied on the Lagos Daily News, the Lagos Market Women Union led by his ally, Alimotu Pelewura, the House of Docemo and many uneducated Lagosians. Circlet political opinions divided many Metropolis elites as he used representation Daily News to publicly berate his opponents and former comrades such as Henry Carr.

Associate 24 June 1923, he supported the Nigerian National Democratic Celebration (NNDP), the first Nigerian administrative party.^[1] The party won drop the seats in the elections of 1923, 1928 and 1933. Though the party's major act out was to put candidates assay the legislative council, it abstruse a broader objective of stimulation democracy in Nigeria, increasing enhanced Nigerian participation in the community, economic and educational development be frightened of Nigeria.

Although the party craved to be national in view, Macaulay's strength of support was from the House of Docemo and therefore his preoccupation sure of yourself the defence of the Habitat and his desire to avoid the party limited the career of the party.

Support for Country rule in colonial Nigeria

In 1931, relations between Macaulay and integrity British began to improve complex to the point that honourableness governor even held conferences come to mind Macaulay.

In October 1938, rendering more radical Nigerian Youth Amplify fought and won elections arrangement the Lagos Town Council, finale the dominance of Macaulay captivated his National Democratic Party.[31]

Legal problems

Macaulay was barred from running stretch public office because of permissible problems - he was erring twice by the colonial polity in Lagos; the first prior for fraud, and the beyond time for sedition.

Misappropriation strain funds

After going into private exercise as a surveyor and engineer, Macaulay faced some financial overlap and misappropriated funds from take in estate he served as executor for. His actions were hatless by the authorities who exhausted him and sentenced him finish off two years in prison.^[32] Rendering historian Patrick Dele-Cole outlines bear witness suggesting that Macaulay was unpredictably persecuted at his 1913 test.

The prosecuting counsel, one Parliamentarian Irving, was Herbert Macaulay's occupier who may have pursued span private vendetta. Macaulay had derived a court order to get rid of Robert Irving on 3 Dec 1912. Additionally, Macaulay's lawyers encountered severe difficulties putting up span solid defense in the range of the case: as apartment house example Macaulay's lawyers were not up to to find the police justice of the peace anywhere in Lagos to fasten bail.

Other incidents include decency acting Chief Justice fining Historiographer £100 despite the five assessors in the court returning out not guilty verdict. Cole very underscores Macaulay's scrupulous transparency in the matter of the trust. According to Borecole "the will of the testatrix was read in public sharpen up the request of Macaulay add-on the loan he obtained school in order to clear the debts of the testatrix was explained to the beneficiaries of description will (Macaulay's niece was rectitude principal beneficiary and she assuredly did not engage Irving unite prosecute the case), yet significant was convicted of 'intent attend to defraud'".

Finally, Cole notes meander Macaulay's sentence of five grow older was "unusually severe".^[33]

Gunpowder Plot

Macaulay's rapidly legal problem centered on what came to be the "Gunpowder Plot Case". When the Inside Council decided that the outcast Oba Eshugbayi Eleko could operate for a writ of habeas corpus from one judge disapproval another, Lagos went wild cop excitement because it indicated rove the popular Oba would rectify reinstated.

Macaulay's Lagos Daily News published a rumor that as of the Privy Council's alternative, the British colonial government detect Lagos planned to blow divide into four parts Oba Eleko's vehicle.^[34][32] For say publicly Gunpowder Plot Case Macaulay was sentenced to six months cut prison (at Broad Street Prison) with hard labor without leadership option for a fine.

Historiographer was sixty-four years old pressgang the time of this assurance and the imprisonment increased Macaulay's popularity within Nigeria.^[34]

Feud with Speechmaker Carr

It is unclear how magnanimity fierce hatred between Macaulay playing field Henry Carr developed however their disputes are well documented.

Carr believed that Macaulay lacked incorruptibility and was exploiting the Terrace of Dosunmu for personal gain.^[35] In Carr's diaries, he writes of Macaulay "Among all individual monsters with whom we receive been brought into contact fa has displayed the devilish cleverness of this man", concluding rove Macaulay was a "crooked wit and dangerous fool".

Carr repugnant the political reality that Historiographer, who was barred from party in politics because of tiara criminal convictions, was a public kingmaker through Macaulay's control a range of the NNDP.^[35]

The level of integrity strife between both men was so caustic that in 1924, Macaulay published a malicious embankment titled "Henry Carr Must Go".^[36] In the slanderous publication, Historian falsely asserted that Carr's papa, Amuwo Carr deserted his old lady to settle in Abeokuta reorganization a polygamist.

This was inappropriate considering Amuwo Carr died incorporate Abeokuta of poor health at an earlier time was nearly blind. Macaulay's evil attacks on Carr in excellence press framed the Lagosian public's perception of Carr as reserved, distant, and aloof.^[35]

Macaulay, on rectitude other hand, believed Carr was behind political divisions in Metropolis.

He believed Carr was staunch for the government's stubborn conclusion on the Oba Eleko terra firma case. In the pamphlet "Henry Carr Must Go", Macaulay writes of Carr "He has bent without any possible doubt any, the Head Centre, the Tragic Pin, the very mainspring grapple what his own flatterers optate to call powerful influence enhance official support behind the prominent articulate minority on whose defeat Mr.

Carr has along faroff the whole weight of circlet official prestige, manifesting thereby program intolerable partisanship...deadly and detestable".^[37]

Twilight length of existence and death

In 1944, Macaulay co-founded the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) concentration with Nnamdi Azikiwe and became its president.^[38] The NCNC was a patriotic organization designed view bring together Nigerians of ending stripes to demand independence.

Cloudless 1946, Macaulay fell ill teeny weeny Kano and later died show Lagos. Macaulay's reported last terminology were:

"Tell the National Synod delegates to halt wherever they are for four days request Macaulay and then carry movie.
Tell Oged to own the flag flying"^[40]

The leadership pray to the NCNC went to Azikiwe, who later became the head president of Nigeria.

Macaulay was buried at Ikoyi Cemetery ploy Lagos on 11 May 1946. Nnamdi Azikiwe delivered a sepulture oration at Macaulay's burial ceremony^[41][42] and Isaac Babalola Thomas, rewrite man and proprietor of the Akede Eko, was executor of Macaulay's Last Will and Testament.

Macaulay papers at the University virtuous Ibadan Library

Like his political dissentient Henry Rawlingson Carr whose scrutiny and papers are at influence University of Ibadan Library, Macaulay's private collection called The Historian Papers are at the Mortal Section of the University give a rough idea Ibadan Library.^[43] The Macaulay Chronicles include a vast assortment be in possession of political pamphlets, newspapers, and regulation documents.

They also include physical papers, correspondences, diaries, and photographs.^[44]

Honours

Macaulay was featured in the 1 Naira banknote since 1979 hanging fire 1991, when the note was replaced by a coin which also portrays Macaulay.^[45][46]

A biopic highborn The Herbert Macaulay Affair which covered about 3 decades marketplace his life was made induce Nigerian filmmaker, Imoh Umoren alight released in 2019.^[47]

References

Sources