Sir Anthony Musgrave.

IT IS that time of the year again when the Institute of Jamaica gets ready to select and award the annual Musgrave Medals to those persons considered by its council as worthy recipients in the gold, silver and bronze categories in the fields of literature, art and science.

The existence of this award, named in honour of the Institute's founder, Sir Anthony Musgrave, governor of Jamaica from 23rd August 1877 to 20th April 1883, has never been embraced by all. Even though the award has been in existence in one form or another since 1897 (with annual awards since 1889), there continues to be mixed views on the appropriateness of continuing to name such a prestigious award after a colonial governor, one who represented the British monarchy during the years of Crown Colony government, when there was an absence of any semblance of popular representation.

So, who was Sir Anthony Musgrave? What aspects of his tenure in Jamaica please some, and why do others object to the association of his name with a prestigious Jamaican heritage award?

A survey of correspondence between the governor and the colonial office, information gleaned from the Handbook of Jamaica, biographical databases, as well as from various newspaper articles and reports from the period 1877-1888 provide a profile of this politician.

Birth, early life

Musgrave was born in St John's, Antigua in 1828. He was the son of Dr Anthony Musgrave, member of the Antiguan House of Assembly and island treasurer from 1824-52, and his wife, Mary, née Sheriff. He received his early education in Antigua and at age 21 became private secretary to the governor of the Leeward Islands.

In 1851 he was admitted to the Inner Temple, London, but soon returned to Antigua to serve as treasury accountant in 1852-53 and colonial secretary from 1854-60. He was married twice, first to Christiana Elizabeth Byam in1853 (who died in 1858), and secondly, in 1864, to Jeannie Lucinda Field by whom he had three sons.

Career

From the 1860s Musgrave developed into a career politician, serving as the administrator of Nevis from October 1860 to April 1861 and after that as administrator and later lieutenant-governor of St Vincent from May 1862-1864. Between 1864 and 1869 he governed Newfoundland, and from 1869-1871, governor of the united colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. In 1872, he was transferred to Natal, Southern Africa. On 6th March 1873 Musgrave became governor of South Australia, demitting that post in 1877. In 1875 he was created KCMG. His next position after South Australia was as governor of Jamaica.

(Continued next week)

Professor Verene A Shepherd, president, Association of Caribbean Historians.