Saturday 28 August 2010

The Governors of Tamba- Tamba 1795-1854


Captain Maurice Bentall- (1770- 1840) Governor May 1795- Sept 1815.
Captain Bentall was born in Dunwich. He recieved the King's Commission in 1791. He was the commandant of Cocktown garrison. Cpt . Bentall's papers reveal that he initially thought that this would be a short term position. During the Napoleonic Wars he frequently expressed frustration at missing out on the action. He was concerned at times that he and his charges had been simply forgotten.
Bentall's calm handling of the Slave Revolt and his ambivalence over the islander's rejection of the church added to his popularity.
He developed a strong affection for Tamba- Tamba, and strove to protract his time in office by fabricating various projects that he said he must oversee to their conclusions.
The British Government briefly considered sending Napoleon into exile on Tamba- Tamba, but last minute doubts over the security of the island led to St Helena being chosen instead. This was a sad end to Bentall's time in office. He was transferred to Trinidad where his career continued without great event.


Admiral Lewis Hunt- (1754- 1816) Governor Sept 1815- Dec 1816. Hunt had served with little distinction in New South Wales under William Bligh. A martyr to his haemorrhoids and gout, Hunt succumbed to the Island Malaise epidemic of 1816.


Sir Harvey Graves (1777- 1840) Governor Jan. 1817- Dec 1834. The universally popular Sir Harvey Graves was Governor of Tamba- Tamba for 17 glorious years. He was looked upon by the islanders as an honorary Tamba- Tambaman. During his period in office the Council was virtually obsolete, although Graves was ready to consult them openly regarding matters that affected their welfare.



Sir Brougham Sleight (1799-1899) Governor Jan 1835 - May 1854 assumed the title Brougham Kakoy in May 1854. It was common knowledge that the bluff Dorset landowner Brougham Sleight had bought his position in the diplomatic service in order to escape his responsibilities on the death of his father. Sleight , however, proved himself to be something of a loose cannon in diplomatic circles, and consequently found himself dispatched to the remote and insignificant Tamba- Tamba.
Sleight seized upon the crisis of 1854 ( the San Luisitano incident) in order to make himself the de facto ruler of the island.

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