Henry Rawlingson Carr
Encyclopedia
Henry Carr was a Nigerian educator and administrator, he was one of the most prominent West Africans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and was a member of the legislative council
in Lagos from 1918-1924
where he received an honours degree, he was the first graduate of the school to achieve the feat. After leaving Fourah Bay in 1882, he went to England and signed up for courses at Lincoln's Inn, St. Mark's College, Chelsea and the Science College at Kensington. He returned to Nigeria in 1885. He taught at the Church Missionary School, Lagos until joining the Colonial Civil Service in 1888. Whilst still an assistant inspector of schools he visited St. Mark's College, Chelsea in 1895. He progressed in the Civil Service to the rank of Inspector of Schools in 1898. He was the first black man to do so. In Lagos
, Nigeria, he continued to progress doing much work on the Board of Education and became the resident of the colony of Lagos in 1920. He appears to be the first black man under British colonial rule to achieve this position. Henry Carr was one of the few West Africans during the early twentieth century that broke barriers in colonial
governance. Before the Second World War
, few Africans rose beyond the position of chief clerk
in colonial administration
. While as the death rate of European
s declined in west Africa, many expatriates came to the country
and gained administrative positions, as the colonial officers readily accepted expatriates and helped advanced their careers, this situation further diminished the chances of West Africans to take more administrative responsibilities. Reasons given to limit the career advancement of Africans were the suspicions British officials had about Africans ethical disposition, due to an earlier embezzlement case in Ghana
. However, this was a single case, and some critics questioned whether there were sinister motives behind the policy.
Like his political foe, Herbert Macaulay
, Carr collected a voluminous collection of books, totaling 18,000. Most of the books like those of Macaulay were donated to the University College, Ibadan. Carr was considered to be a member of the early Lagos political movements that favored assimilation with the European colonists.
Commissioner (later renamed Resident) of the Colony of Lagos (1918-1924); member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn (registered 1909), worshipful chancellor of (Diocese of Western Equatorial) Africa (1906-1919) and of the Lagos Diocese (1920-1945), First vice president (the first president was Governor Sir William MacGregor) of the Lagos Institute for the Study of Arts and Letters etc.
Official member of the Board of Education of the Colony and Southern Provinces of Nigeria (1926-1945), of the Colony of Lagos School Committee 1913-45, of the Board of Advisers of Higher College, Yaba, (1934-44), of Queen's College, Lagos (1939-45), of the Assessment Committee for Rates and Taxes of Lagos Township (1929-37); of the Nigerian Legislative Council (1933-44).
Visitor and member of the Visiting Committee of Lagos Prisons (1925-37), member of the Board of Governors of Igbobi College, Yaba (1937-1945), "Architect" of Kings College, Lagos; book collector, matchless educationist, orator, musician, distinguished civil servant.
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
in Lagos from 1918-1924
Career in West Africa
Henry Carr was born in Lagos and migrated to Sierra Leone for his secondary school education. In Sierra Leone, he attended Fourah Bay CollegeFourah Bay College
Fourah Bay College is the oldest university college in West Africa. It is located atop Mount Aureol in Freetown, Sierra Leone...
where he received an honours degree, he was the first graduate of the school to achieve the feat. After leaving Fourah Bay in 1882, he went to England and signed up for courses at Lincoln's Inn, St. Mark's College, Chelsea and the Science College at Kensington. He returned to Nigeria in 1885. He taught at the Church Missionary School, Lagos until joining the Colonial Civil Service in 1888. Whilst still an assistant inspector of schools he visited St. Mark's College, Chelsea in 1895. He progressed in the Civil Service to the rank of Inspector of Schools in 1898. He was the first black man to do so. In Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria, he continued to progress doing much work on the Board of Education and became the resident of the colony of Lagos in 1920. He appears to be the first black man under British colonial rule to achieve this position. Henry Carr was one of the few West Africans during the early twentieth century that broke barriers in colonial
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
governance. Before the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, few Africans rose beyond the position of chief clerk
Chief Clerk
The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking official within the United States Department of State, known as the Department of Foreign Affairs before September 5, 1789. Section 2 of the Act of Congress of July 27, 1789 The Chief Clerk, between 1789 and 1853, was the second-ranking...
in colonial administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
. While as the death rate of European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
s declined in west Africa, many expatriates came to the country
Country
A country is a region legally identified as a distinct entity in political geography. A country may be an independent sovereign state or one that is occupied by another state, as a non-sovereign or formerly sovereign political division, or a geographic region associated with a previously...
and gained administrative positions, as the colonial officers readily accepted expatriates and helped advanced their careers, this situation further diminished the chances of West Africans to take more administrative responsibilities. Reasons given to limit the career advancement of Africans were the suspicions British officials had about Africans ethical disposition, due to an earlier embezzlement case in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. However, this was a single case, and some critics questioned whether there were sinister motives behind the policy.
Like his political foe, Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Macaulay
Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, engineer, journalist, and musician and considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Nigerian nationalism.- Early life :...
, Carr collected a voluminous collection of books, totaling 18,000. Most of the books like those of Macaulay were donated to the University College, Ibadan. Carr was considered to be a member of the early Lagos political movements that favored assimilation with the European colonists.
Biography
Dr. Henry Rawlinson Carr, B.A Dunelm (1882); M.A., B.C.L Dunelm by examination and private study (1906); Honorary D.C.L Dunelm (1934); I.S.O (1920); O.B.E. (1929); C.B.E (1934); school master, Lagos Grammar School (1885-1889); inspector of schools of the Colony of Lagos (1900 and 1903-1906); senior inspector of schools of the Western Provinces of the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria (1906-1915); chief inspector of schools of the Southern Provinces of Nigeria (1915-1928).Commissioner (later renamed Resident) of the Colony of Lagos (1918-1924); member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn (registered 1909), worshipful chancellor of (Diocese of Western Equatorial) Africa (1906-1919) and of the Lagos Diocese (1920-1945), First vice president (the first president was Governor Sir William MacGregor) of the Lagos Institute for the Study of Arts and Letters etc.
Official member of the Board of Education of the Colony and Southern Provinces of Nigeria (1926-1945), of the Colony of Lagos School Committee 1913-45, of the Board of Advisers of Higher College, Yaba, (1934-44), of Queen's College, Lagos (1939-45), of the Assessment Committee for Rates and Taxes of Lagos Township (1929-37); of the Nigerian Legislative Council (1933-44).
Visitor and member of the Visiting Committee of Lagos Prisons (1925-37), member of the Board of Governors of Igbobi College, Yaba (1937-1945), "Architect" of Kings College, Lagos; book collector, matchless educationist, orator, musician, distinguished civil servant.