Edward Brandis Denham
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Brandis Denham, GCMG, KBE (1876-1938) was a British
colonial administrator. He served as Governor of The Gambia (1928–1930), British Guiana (1930–1935) and Jamaica (1935–1938).
and Merton College, Oxford
. Joining the colonial service as a cadet in the Ceylon Civil Service
, he later served as colonial secretary of Mauritius
(1920-1923) and acting governor of Kenya
(1923-1928). He became Governor of the Gambia in November 1928, finding it hard to deal with the general strike
called by the Bathurst Trade Union
in late 1929. In January 1930 he left the Gambia to become Governor of British Guiana.
He was appointed Governor of Jamaica by the colonial office in 1935. His short three year stint was troubled with political and social unrest
. There had been serious riots at the docks in Kingston
and Falmouth
in May and October 1935. 1938 opened with a cane
cutters' strike on Serge Island Estate in the parish of St. Thomas
. In response, Governor Denham fired off anxious telegrams to the colonial office in London
. To head off trouble, Governor Denham appointed commissions to investigate wage rates and unemployment, followed by emergency public works
initiatives.
The Governor found the islands' problems complex and difficult to solve. Denham thought the real problems of Jamaica were less economic than political. The recent emergence of a group of well-educated mixed-raced Jamaican politicians posed the main threat to the delicately balanced equilibrium of British colonial rule
. Imperialism
and democracy were as difficult to merge as black and white, but the British genius for compromise and putting blind eyes to unpleasant facts had indeed brought forth a workable system. It was that system of democratic ruling of native peoples which Sir Edward Denham believed in and practised.
Denham died of a heart attack
at Kings House, the Governors' residence, in 1938. In 1944, six years after his death, Jamaicans were granted universal adult suffrage
, an idea initiated by Governor Edward Denham. An area in the western section of Kingston called 'Denham town' is named after him and in his memory the Sir Edward Denham Memorial Prize is awarded at Royal College Colombo
since 1939.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
colonial administrator. He served as Governor of The Gambia (1928–1930), British Guiana (1930–1935) and Jamaica (1935–1938).
Life
Edward Brandis Denham was educated at Malvern CollegeMalvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
and Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
. Joining the colonial service as a cadet in the Ceylon Civil Service
Ceylon Civil Service
The Ceylon Civil Service, popularly known by its acronym CCS, originated as the elite civil service of the Government of Ceylon under British colonial rule in 1833 and carried on after independence, until May 1, 1963 when it was abolished and the much larger Ceylon Administrative Service was...
, he later served as colonial secretary of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
(1920-1923) and acting governor of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
(1923-1928). He became Governor of the Gambia in November 1928, finding it hard to deal with the general strike
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
called by the Bathurst Trade Union
Bathurst Trade Union
The Bathurst Trade Union was the first trade union organization in Bathurst, today Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. It was founded by Edward Francis Small in 1929, out of the Carpenters' and Shipwrights' Society. Small became the chairman of BTU. In October the same year the BTU was joined by...
in late 1929. In January 1930 he left the Gambia to become Governor of British Guiana.
He was appointed Governor of Jamaica by the colonial office in 1935. His short three year stint was troubled with political and social unrest
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
. There had been serious riots at the docks in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
and Falmouth
Falmouth, Jamaica
Falmouth is the chief town and capital of the parish of Trelawny in Jamaica. It is situated on Jamaica's north coast 18 miles east of Montego Bay. It is noted for being one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved Georgian towns....
in May and October 1935. 1938 opened with a cane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
cutters' strike on Serge Island Estate in the parish of St. Thomas
Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica
Saint Thomas is a suburban parish that is situated at the south eastern end of Jamaica, in the county of Surrey. It is the birth place of The right Honorable Paul Bogle, one of Jamaica's seven National Heroes...
. In response, Governor Denham fired off anxious telegrams to the colonial office in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. To head off trouble, Governor Denham appointed commissions to investigate wage rates and unemployment, followed by emergency public works
Public works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
initiatives.
The Governor found the islands' problems complex and difficult to solve. Denham thought the real problems of Jamaica were less economic than political. The recent emergence of a group of well-educated mixed-raced Jamaican politicians posed the main threat to the delicately balanced equilibrium of British colonial rule
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Imperialism
Imperialism
Imperialism, as defined by Dictionary of Human Geography, is "the creation and/or maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural, and territorial relationships, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination." The imperialism of the last 500 years,...
and democracy were as difficult to merge as black and white, but the British genius for compromise and putting blind eyes to unpleasant facts had indeed brought forth a workable system. It was that system of democratic ruling of native peoples which Sir Edward Denham believed in and practised.
Denham died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at Kings House, the Governors' residence, in 1938. In 1944, six years after his death, Jamaicans were granted universal adult suffrage
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
, an idea initiated by Governor Edward Denham. An area in the western section of Kingston called 'Denham town' is named after him and in his memory the Sir Edward Denham Memorial Prize is awarded at Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
since 1939.