Henry Bartle Frere

Henry Bartle Frere

Died at Wimbledon from the effect of a severe chill on May 29, 1884. Buried St Paul's Cathedral

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Sir H. Bartle Frere, High Commissioner for Southern Africa (St. Paul's Cathedral)
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Photo By Tim Needham.
Source: Keynsham Light Horse.

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Sir H. Bartle Frere, High Commissioner for Southern Africa - Memorial (London)
Photo By Tim. Needham.

FRERE, SIR HENRY BARTLE EDWARD, BARONET (1815-1881)

Governor : I.C.S. : sixth son of Edward Frere, and nephew of John Hookham Frere : born March 29, 1815, educated at
Bath and Haileybury : went to India in 1834, by the overland route, making his way with difficulty via Cairo, Kosseir, Jeddah, Mocha, and a pilgrim vessel to Bombay : Assistant Revenue Commissioner for some years to H. E. Goldsmid [q.v.) in investigating land assessments : Private Secretary to Sir G. Arthur, Governor of Bombay, 1842 : Resident at Satara, 1846 : on the annexation of Satara in 1848-9 (to which he was opposed), Frere was appointed Commissioner : Chief Commissioner in Sind, 1850-9 : greatly advanced the Province in every way, conciliated the Amirs, improved Karachi harbour, developed institutions, controlled the frontier and the tribes : in the mutiny he nearly denuded Sind of troops to help the Panjab and South Mahratta country : repressed attempts at mutin3% and kept Sind quiet and loyal : his great services were highly valued in England and India : K.C.B. in 1859 : Member of the Governor- General's Supreme Council from Dec. 1859, to April, 1S62 : helped greatly in the restoration of financial equilibrium and in the establishment of Legislative Councils : Governor of Bombay from April, 1862, to March, 1867 : advanced education, buUt colleges, pushed on railways, established the Bombay municipality, demolished the old ramparts of the town, initiated female education. Over-trading, speculation, and the restoration of peace in America (causing a fall in cotton) brought on a commercial crisis, in which the Bank of Bombay was involved : Frere's policy during this period was the subject of unfavourable criticism. He was Member of the Council of India, 1867-77 : G. C.S.I. : D.C.L. : President of the Geographical and Asiatic Societies : sent to Zanzibar, in 1872, to negotiate a treaty for the suppression of the slave-trade : P.C. : LL.D. : accompanied H.R.H. the Prince of Wales in his Indian tour, 1875-6 : Baronet and G.C.B. : appointed, in 1887, Governor of the Cape and High Commissioner in S. Africa : brought a war with the Kafirs to conclusion, 1878 : became engaged in the Zulu war, 1879 : and in troubles regarding the Transvaal with the Boers : the English Government recalled Frere in 1880 for his conduct in relation to the Zulu war and alleged disregard of orders : he defended himself on his return to England : he advocated a forward policy with regard to Afghanistan : died May 29, 1884 : buried in St. Paul's Cathedral : his statue erected on the Thames Embankment : he was an eminent public servant, combining strong character under a kindly and courteous demeanour : and was earnest in his religious views. He wrote a number of papers on the questions of the day, connected with India : also a memoir of his uncle above-named.

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Remains of the Frere Bridge over the Orange River at Aliwal North. The bridge was opened on 21 July 1880, shortly before Frere's departure from the Cape.

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Sir Henry Bartle Frere, K.C.B., K.C.G.S.J.
Born on 29th March, 1815, one of 14 children of Edward Frere. He was the grandson of John Frer, MP for Norwich, and his uncle was John Hookham Frere, British Ambassador to Portugal & Junta Spain during the Peninsula Wars. Another uncle was William Frer, Master of Downing College, Cambridge. Bartle Frere entered the Bombay Civil Service in 1834 and by 1862 had become the confidential adviser to the Governor of Bombay. In 1872 he was sent to Zanzibar to negotiate the suppression of the slave trade, and to this day there is a village near Mombasa named Freretown after him. In 1876 he was made GCB and a baronet, and in 1877 became Governor of the Cape and First High Commissioner of South Africa, and was involved in the Zulu wars of 1879. He died on 29th May, 1884 and is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.