Sir John Peter Grant, Governor of Jamaica, 1866-1874: an Administrative History
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1967 Sir John Peter Grant, Governor of Jamaica, 1866-1874: an Administrative History. Vincent John Marsala Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Marsala, Vincent John, "Sir John Peter Grant, Governor of Jamaica, 1866-1874: an Administrative History." (1967). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 1258. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/1258 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been — — microfilmed exactly as received 67—8789 MARSALA, Vincent John, 1935- SIR JOHN PETER GRANT, GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA, 1866-1874: AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY. Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1967 History, modern University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan Vincent John Marsala 1967 All Rights Reserved SIR JOHN PETER GRANT, GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA, 1866-1874: AN ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Latin American Studies Institute by Vincent John Marsala B.A., Northeast Louisiana State College, 1958 M.A. , Louisiana State University, 1962 January, 1967 PLEASE NOTE: Figure pages are not original copy. They tend to "curl". Filmed in the best possible way. University Microfilms. In Memory of James M. Watkins, Friend and Scholar ACKNOWLEDG MENT The author wishes to express his appreciation to several indivi duals and agencies who were instrumental in the writing of this dissertation. First and foremost the author wishes to acknowledge the guidance of Dr. Jane DeGrummond for her time and advice given so freely in the preparation of this work. The author is also indebted to Louisiana State University for a financial grant which made possible his research in Jamaica. The author is grateful to Dr. Bernard Lewis, Director of the Institute of Jamaica, for allowing him to use the valuable research materials of that depository; and appreciation is also given to Mr. Clinton V. Black, Government Archivist of Jamaica, and his staff for allowing the author to use the resources of the Archives of Jamaica. The author is particularly indebted to Miss Judith Richards, Research Assistant at the Institute, and the entire Institute staff who were most helpful in searching for historical material pertinent to the dissertation. Also acknowledgment must be given to the Institute for allowing the author to copy the photograph of Sir John Peter Grant, and for reproducing the Orders in Council and Draft of Instructions which are located in the Appendices of this dissertation. The author is also indebted to his wife, Carol Ann, for her assistance in the tedious job of note-taking; and to Mr. Ken Purdy who so expertly processed the photographs included in this dissertation. Finally, the author wishes to thank the many Jamaicans who made their island such a pleasant n'Uce in which to live and do research. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................ ..................................... iii LIST OF TABLES.............................................................................. vi LIST OF PLATES.............................................................................. vil ABSTRACT........................................................................................... viii I. THE MORANT BAY "REBELLION"............................................. 1 II. INAUGURATION OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT........................ 33 III. GOVERNMENTAL REFORM AND "PATERNAL DESPOTISM," 1866-1868............................................................ 53 IV. JAMAICA LIFTS UP HER HEAD, 1869-1871.......................... 86 V. THE LAST YEARS, 1872-1873 .......................................... 142 VI. SUMMARY............................. 182 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................. 190 APPENDICES..................................................................................... 199 v LIST OF TABLES TABLE Page I. Annual Rate of Reductions Effected in 1866-»1867..... 65 II. Government Deficit, 1861-1866 ............................................ 81 III. Land Use Pattern of Cultivated Land - 1869 .................... 105 IV. Department of Education Expenditure, 1866-1870.... 122 V. Union Hospitals for Coolie Immigrants - 1870 ................. 123 VI. Value of Imported Articles for Agricultural or Other Industrial Objects, 1866-1871 ..................... 134 VII. Population of Jamaica, 1844, 1861, 1871 ........................... 137 VTII. Number and Efficiency of Schools, 1868-1872................. 158 IX. Treasury Receipts - 1873...................... 168 X. Treasury Disbursements - 1873 ............................................. 169 XI. Total Educational Expenditure - 1866-1873 ....................... 174 XII. Business Transacted by District Courts - 1868-1873. 176 vi LIST OF PLATES PLATE Page I. Walkway through Victoria Park (Parade) ............................. 131 II. Victoria Park - South Parade ................................................... 132 III. Rio Cobre D a m ............................................................................... 140 IV. Victoria Market - Main Entrance............................................. 145 V. North View of Market B uilding ................................................. 146 VI. Grounds of King's House - Formerly Bishop's Lodge . 149 vii ABSTRACT Many in Jamaica believed, in 1865, that the island was headed towards a blood-bath similar to that experienced in Haiti in 1791, The English government avoided such a catastrophe by making the island a Crown Colony and by appointing Sir John Peter Grant governor in 1866. This individual, granted plenary authority by the Crown and guided by a sincere concern for the islanders, prevented the horror that many had expected. Upon assuming the governorship he immediately launched an enlightened program of reform which soon won the title of "paternal despotism." Governor Grant used his power to the fullest in helping Jamaica to "lift up her head." His program of governmental reform and reorganization led to a stable economy and the lessening of . tensions between the classes. Unnecessary expenses were reduced, new taxes levied and the Revenue Department was reorganized. Roads, bridges, and public buildings were constructed throughout the island, and the number of parishes was reduced from twenty-two to fourteen. The educational system was overhauled and greatly expanded for all classes. Elementary schools were built throughout the island, a College was opened in Spanish Town, and a Government Training School for Schoolmasters was opened. Hospitals were built, island- wide medical services improved, the immigration of laborers was encouraged, and the Church of England in Jamaica was .disestablished. v iii The legal system was revised; a new police force was organized; and all, regardless of class, color or creed, were made equal before the law . The capital was moved from Spanish Town to Kingston and many public improvements were initiated in the new capital to make it a modern city. The far-sighted Rio Cobre Irrigation system was started and a Government Savings Bank was opened. In seven years Sir John Peter Grant laid the foundations for a modern Jamaica and won for himself the praise of many citizens, His administration was marked by responsibility, character, vigor and intelligence. Jamaica's historical records show that he was an able administrator for both the Crown and the Colony. ix CHAPTER I THE MORANT BAY "REBELLION" The year 1865 is of great significance in Jamaican history because of the so-called "Rebellion" that occurred in Morant Bay and the resultant far reaching consequences that eventually laid the basis for modern Jamaica. Many of the events described in this dissertation may seem unimportant to the reader. However, on a small island community such as Jamaica, detached by time and distance from world-shaking events, isolated incidents such as the Morant Bay riot or the installa tion of a new governor were of great importance to Jamaicans and have become a significant part of their national history. The lack of eye catching events on the islands of the Caribbean (except Cuba) is one reason why few historians have bothered with island history. This, of course, should not be the case. The islands of the Caribbean have their own exciting stories to tell and possess the necessary depositories for competent historical research. In order to understand the upheavel that took place in Morant Bay it is first necessary to realize that prior to 1865 a rapid succes sion of economic and political catastrophes had hit Jamaica. Coupled with these problems was a gradual worsening of relations 1 between employers and laborers and also between the people as a whole and the Island Legislature and governor. 1 The first half of the nineteenth century was a period of hardship for Jamaica. The island had always been a comparatively high-cost producer of sugar, and the opening of better sugar