Traders & Colonial Administrators

History: AQA A Level The British Empire, topic 1.4.3

The Role of Traders

Traders were able to exert considerable influence when they were "on the spot". Key figures included:

Cecil Rhodes was 'the worst type of monopolizing imperialists' according to Kitchen (1996).
Rhodes owned all the diamond mines in South Africa and owned the predecessor of the De Beers diamond cartel.
In 1889, Rhodes founded the British South Africa Company. He established the colony of Rhodesia (named after himself) and supported the British South Africa Company's expansion against German and Boer interests, securing gold discovered in the Witwatersrand Reef in South Africa, and a strategic position against rivals.

Mackinnon worked in the trading bays in Bengal. In 1856, he founded the Calcutta and Burma Steam Navigation Company.
Mackinnon founded the British East Africa Company, which controlled areas of Uganda and Kenya, taxed the local population, and governed the area, whilst British people were immune from any prosecution.
In 1892, a civil war broke out between local people and the East African Company.
In 1893, the territory run by the British East African Company was transferred to the British government. Uganda became a protectorate.
Mackinnon was motivated by financial and missionary ideals. He founded the Free Church of Scotland East African Scottish Mission in Kenya (1891).

Goldie traded palm oil in the Niger (palm oil replaced slaves as the main export in the region).
In 1879, he persuaded all British trading firms working on the Niger River to join to form the United African Company. This created a monopoly. After 5 years of resistance, and after buying French trading companies in the Niger, Goldie was granted a charter by Parliament. The Company was renamed the Royal Niger Company.
Local chiefs, like Jaja of Opobo, were banned by the Company from exporting palm oil. King Koko of the Nembe resisted the Company's control of Nigeria and was forced into exile.
In 1900, the British Government took direct control of the 2 protectorates included in Goldie's company, Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria in exchange for £895,000. The local population seems like an afterthought of the transaction.

Colonial administrators had the ability to wield considerable influence in the British Empire. Key figures included:

Baring's first posting was in India, appointed as a private secretary to the Viceroy.
Baring, later known as Lord Cromer, was competent, but arrogant, leading to the nickname of ‘Over-Baring’.
Baring believed in British superiority to all of the Indians and Egyptians over whom he ruled.
Baring's second posting was as the Consul General in Egypt (1882-1907).
Baring approved the Dufferin Report (1883), which established a puppet parliament.

Frere initially worked in the Indian Civil Service.
He was appointed as High Commissioner of Cape Colony in 1877.
Frere was an imperialist and was arrogant.
In 1878, Frere attempted to increase British control in South Africa. This led to a war with the local Zulu tribe, led by King Cetshwayo.
Frere was removed from power for his actions.