William Frederick Gowers
Encyclopedia
Sir William Frederick Gowers (31 December 1875 – 7 October 1954) was a British
colonial administrator who was Governor of Uganda
from 1925 to 1932.
and then at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated BA in 1898 with a First in the Classical Tripos. He retained his interest in the classics throughout his life. He went to Africa in 1899 as an employee of the British South Africa Company
(BSA) and became an assistant Native Commissioner in Matabeleland
, in what is now western Zimbabwe
, leaving this post in 1902.
. He took up this post two years after the Protectorate of Nigeria had been declared, and saw the occupation of the Moslem Emirates of the region under Frederick Lugard
's policy of indirect rule.
During the First World War Gowers served as political adviser in the Cameroons Expeditionary Force (1915–1916).
He rose to the position of Lieutenant-Governor of the Northern Province of Nigeria.
Soon after taking office, Gowers proposed a remedy to the practice of payment of envujo on cash crops, which colonial officials had denounced as "repugnant to justice and morality". His recommendation was to make envujo payable to the British administration rather than to African landlords.
On the question of the Toro Kingdom, which the British had restored after driving out the Banyoro, Gowers felt that the agreement made at the time was simply a declaration of principal by the protecting power. The British were free to deal with the kingdom as they saw fit.
Committees on language policy in Uganda had recommended teaching Acholi
in the north, Teso in parts of the eastern province and Luganda
elsewhere.
As governor of Uganda, Gowers pointed out the importance of Swahili
, understood in Kenya
and Tanganyika
and the eastern Congo. He was perhaps anticipating the need for a common language in a federation of East African countries.
In 1926 Sir Edward Grigg, Governor of Kenya, called a conference in Nairobi
to discuss closer union of the East African colonies, which Sir William Gowers fully supported. However, Governor Donald Charles Cameron of Tanganyika was firmly against it, thinking it would be unjust to Africans.
Gowers died on 7 October 1954.
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...
colonial administrator who was Governor of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
from 1925 to 1932.
Early years
Gowers was born 31 December 1875 in London. He was educated at Rugby SchoolRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and then at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated BA in 1898 with a First in the Classical Tripos. He retained his interest in the classics throughout his life. He went to Africa in 1899 as an employee of the British South Africa Company
British South Africa Company
The British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
(BSA) and became an assistant Native Commissioner in Matabeleland
Matabeleland
Modern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
, in what is now western Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, leaving this post in 1902.
Nigeria
In 1902 Gowers resigned from the BSA and joined the Colonial Service, taking the job of third-class resident in Northern NigeriaNorthern Region, Nigeria
The Northern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions. It was created before independence in 1960, with its capital at Kaduna. In 1962 it acquired the territory of the British Northern Cameroons, who had voted to become part of Nigeria....
. He took up this post two years after the Protectorate of Nigeria had been declared, and saw the occupation of the Moslem Emirates of the region under Frederick Lugard
Frederick Lugard
Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard GCMG, CB, DSO, PC , known as Sir Frederick Lugard between 1901 and 1928, was a British soldier, mercenary, explorer of Africa and colonial administrator, who was Governor of Hong Kong and Governor-General of Nigeria .-Early life and education:Lugard...
's policy of indirect rule.
During the First World War Gowers served as political adviser in the Cameroons Expeditionary Force (1915–1916).
He rose to the position of Lieutenant-Governor of the Northern Province of Nigeria.
Uganda
From 1925 to 1932 Gowers was Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Protectorate.Soon after taking office, Gowers proposed a remedy to the practice of payment of envujo on cash crops, which colonial officials had denounced as "repugnant to justice and morality". His recommendation was to make envujo payable to the British administration rather than to African landlords.
On the question of the Toro Kingdom, which the British had restored after driving out the Banyoro, Gowers felt that the agreement made at the time was simply a declaration of principal by the protecting power. The British were free to deal with the kingdom as they saw fit.
Committees on language policy in Uganda had recommended teaching Acholi
Acholi language
Acholi is a language primarily spoken by the Acholi people in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, a region known as Acholiland in northern Uganda. Acholi is also spoken in the southern part of the Opari District of South Sudan...
in the north, Teso in parts of the eastern province and Luganda
Luganda language
Ganda, or Luganda , is the major language of Uganda, spoken by over sixteen million Ganda and other people mainly in Southern Uganda, including the capital Kampala. It belongs to the Bantu branch of the Niger–Congo language family...
elsewhere.
As governor of Uganda, Gowers pointed out the importance of Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
, understood in 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...
and Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
and the eastern Congo. He was perhaps anticipating the need for a common language in a federation of East African countries.
In 1926 Sir Edward Grigg, Governor of Kenya, called a conference in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
to discuss closer union of the East African colonies, which Sir William Gowers fully supported. However, Governor Donald Charles Cameron of Tanganyika was firmly against it, thinking it would be unjust to Africans.
Later career
Gowers was appointed Senior Crown Agent for the Colonies (1932–1938), Deputy Chairman of the Cereals Control Board (1939–1940) and Civil Defence Liaison Officer, Southern Command (1940–1942).Gowers died on 7 October 1954.