Herbert Macaulay

**Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay** (born 14 November 1864 — die 7 May 1946) be Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist den musician. Plenty people dey see Macaulay as de person wey start Nigerian nationalism.

## Early years
Dem born Herbert Macaulay on 14 November 1864 insyd Broad Street, Lagos, to de family of Thomas Babington Macaulay den Abigail Crowther. Ein poppie den mommie be children of people wey dem capture from wetin be Nigeria now, resettle dem insyd Sierra Leone by de British West Africa Squadron, plus dem eventual return come Nigeria wey dey now. Thomas Babington Macaulay be one of de sons of Ojo Oriare while Abigail Crowther be de daughter of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a descendant of King Abiodun. Thomas Babington Macaulay be de one wey found anoda secondary school wey be first for Nigeria—de CMS Grammar School, Lagos.

## Education
Macaulay start ein primary school insyd 1869, den from 1877, dem teach am for St Paul's Breadfruit School, Lagos plus CMS Faji School, Lagos. From 1877 go October 1880, e attend CMS Grammar School, Lagos for ein secondary education. E still be student for de school when ein poppie die insyd 1878. Insyd 1880, e join ein mommie ein brother ein trade steamer den travel for trade plus missionary work cross de Niger River visit places like Bonny, Lokoja, Gbebe den Brass. After e go one Christian missionary school, e get job as clerical assistant plus indexer for de Department of Public Works, Lagos. After dat, plus support from de colonial administration, Macaulay comot Lagos on 1 July 1890 to continue ein training insyd England. From 1891 to 1894, e study civil engineering insyd Plymouth, England, plus e be pupil to G.D. Bellamy, wey be borough surveyor den water engineer for Plymouth. For 1893, e graduate from de Royal Institute of British Architects, London. Macaulay be top musician too—weh get certificate for music from Trinity College, London plus certificate for violin playing from Music International College, London.

## Career
Wen Macaulay return come Lagos insyd September 1893, e start work again plus de colonial service as surveyor for Crown Lands. E comot from de service as land inspector insyd September 1898, sake of ein growing dislike for British rule wey dey govern Lagos Colony, den how Yorubaland plus de Niger Coast Protectorate dey under British protectorate matter. Authors like Patrick Dele-Cole don mention abuse of office allegations wey ein British ogas raise, plus talk say e chase ein private interest—wey bring wahala come Macaulay ein resignation as surveyor for Crown Grants. Kristin Mann, wey quote British Colonial Government dispatches, talk say Macaulay no behave clean, say e use ein position as Surveyor of Crown Lands take help ein friends get crown grants den punish ein enemies by granting demma land give anoda people. She still write say Macaulay collect crown grants under fake names den sell am take make profit. Insyd October 1898, e get licence to practise as surveyor. As surveyor, ein plans plus land valuations cover places like E. J. Alex Taylor ein house for Victoria Street, Henry Carr ein residence for Tinubu, Akinola Maja ein house plus Doherty Villa for Campos Square.

## Private life
Macaulay marry Caroline Pratt, wey be daughter of one African Superintendent of Police insyd December 1898. Demma marriage end insyd August 1899, as Caroline die during childbirth. People talk say Macaulay vow say e no go marry again. Even though Macaulay no marry inside Church again, e get liaisons, like Ms. da Souza wey return come Lagos—her ancestral home—from Brazil. She live reach her 90s, plus Macaulay get number of children plus am. Stella Davies Coker, daughter of J. P. L. Davies den Sarah Forbes Bonetta, live plus Macaulay from 1909 till she die insyd 1916. Dem born one daughter wey dem name Sarah Abigail Idowu Macaulay Adadevoh. Dem name Sarah Abigail after her maternal grandmother Sarah Forbes Bonetta plus her paternal grandmother Abigail Crowther. People talk say Macaulay be de first Nigerian wey own motor car.

Even though e come from family of devout Anglicans, Macaulay embrace indigenous African religious traditions, e be superstitious, den e dabble insyd practice of magic. Ein personal papers get notes from fortune tellers plus diviners wey give instructions about taboos, divinations, sacrifices den other occult practices. Macaulay be member of de Association of Babalawos (Ifa priests) of Lagos.

Macaulay be big socialite wey shine insyd Victorian Lagos. E organise concerts plus film shows (e be among de first Nigerians wey bring films come Nigeria by inviting film companies make dem come Lagos come exhibit films) for ein residence wey e name "Kirsten Hall" after ein German Consul friend, Arthur Kirsten. Kirsten Hall dey number 8, Balbina Street insyd Yaba. People nickname Macaulay “Wizard of Kirsten Hall” sake of how e dey obtain classified information sharp-sharp. Macaulay run network of informants wey e dey pay proper-proper. Plenty times, minutes from colonial government meetings leak enter newspapers wey Macaulay get connection plus. Big big sections from colonial government files den telegrams still dey inside Macaulay Papers wey dey for Africana section of de Library for University of Ibadan.

## Opposition to British rule insyd colonial Nigeria
Before twentieth century start, Macaulay dey link plus many Lagos socialites, e work as private surveyor den ein view about colonialism be moderate. But by de end of 1800s, e start shift from ein professional den social activity, com enter full-time political activism. E join de Anti-Slavery plus Aborigines' Protection Society. Macaulay no be de kind person wey people expect make e champion de masses—but na wetin e do. E be grandson of Ajayi Crowther, wey be de first African bishop for Niger Territory. Macaulay born insyd Lagos wey dem divide politically into groups wey fit form pecking order: British authorities dey posh Marina district, Saros plus other slave descendants dey west side, den Brazilians dey behind de whites for Portuguese Town. Behind all of dem be de real Lagosians—masses of indigenous Yoruba people—wey dem privileged neighbours no dey like nor regard. Na Macaulay ein generation make Saros plus Brazilians begin think about making common cause plus de masses.

Macaulay be one of de first Nigerian nationalists, den for most part of ein life, e stand strong against plenty colonial policies. As reply to de British wey talk say dem dey rule plus “de true interests of de natives at heart,” Macaulay write say: “De dimensions of ‘de true interests of de natives at heart’ dey algebraically equal to de length, breadth plus depth of de whiteman ein pocket.” Insyd 1908, e expose European corruption for how dem handle railway finances. Then for 1919, e argue sharp-sharp for de chiefs wey colonial government collect demma land, plus e win de case for de Privy Council for London. Because of dat, de colonial government gree pay compensation give de chiefs.

Insyd 1909, Macaulay come out publicly against de prohibition of spirits enter Nigeria wey e feel say go finally lead to reduced government revenues plus after dat increased taxation. Macaulay still find ein self against de colonial government on top three major issues wey dey prominent for Lagos life during 1900–1930. De issues include de proposed water rate, selection of de Oba of Lagos plus de Imamate of de Lagos Central Mosque. Macaulay oppose colonial taxation to fund water supply for Lagos based on de grounds of taxation without representation. E be major supporter of de House of Docemo for Lagos. Sake of say Lagos no dey under indirect rule, de Oba of Lagos, unlike many of ein counterparts for other areas of de country, lose plenty of ein traditional authorities. Macaulay support de House of Docemo for how dem oppose de water rate plus how colonial government dey acquire Lagos lands. E still mobilize de Ilu Committee wey get de Oba of Lagos plus dem traditional chiefs from Lagos, make dem stand against some of de colonial policies.

Macaulay ein profile insyd Lagos rise high because of de Oluwa Land case. Amodu Tijani Oluwa, wey be traditional chief, challenge de compulsory acquisition without compensation of ein family land for Apapa. E lose ein appeal for Supreme Court, then carry de case go de Privy Court Council for London. Macaulay be Oluwa ein private secretary for de trip go London. De Ilu Committee plus de Oba support Oluwa ein case, as dem get interest for protection of demma family lands for Lagos. Insyd London, Macaulay present ein self as Oluwa ein private secretary plus as representative of de Oba, den insyd dat position e make statements wey colonial authorities feel say dey against demma interest. Insyd 1920, de Eleko, Eshungbayi, get ostracized by de British, sake of say e no agree reject de allegations against de colonial authorities wey Macaulay talk insyd London.

To push ein political activities go further, Macaulay co-found de Nigerian Daily News, one platform wey e use write opinion pieces like *Justitia Fiat: De Moral Obligation of de British Government to de House of Docemo*. E still write one piece wey dem title *Henry Carr Must Go*. From 1923 go 1938, e become prominent figure for many serious political matters for Lagos, including de quinquennial elections enter de Legislative Council, triennial elections go de Lagos Town Council, plus de headship of de House of Docemo. Insyd ein political activities, e rely on de Lagos Daily News, de Lagos Market Women Association wey ein ally Alimotu Pelewura dey lead, de House of Docemo plus many uneducated Lagosians. Ein political opinions divide plenty Lagos elites as e use de Daily News take publicly attack ein opponents plus former friends like Henry Carr. On 24 June 1923, e form de Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), wey be de first Nigerian political party. De party win all de seats for de elections of 1923, 1928 plus 1933. Even though de party ein main function be to put candidates enter de legislative council, e get broader objective—to promote democracy for Nigeria, increase higher Nigerian participation for de social, economic plus educational development of Nigeria. Even as de party wan make ein outlook national, Macaulay ein strong support come from de House of Docemo, plus ein strong focus on defending de House den desire to control de party restrict de party ein growth.

## Support for British rule insyd colonial Nigeria
Insyd 1931, relationship between Macaulay plus de British begin improve reach de point wey de governor even hold conferences plus Macaulay. Insyd October 1938, de more radical Nigerian Youth Movement fight plus win elections for de Lagos Town Council, wey end de dominance of Macaulay plus ein National Democratic Party.

## Legal problems
Macaulay no fit run for public office because of legal problems—weh e get conviction two times by de colonial government for Lagos; first time for fraud, plus second time for sedition.

### Misappropriation of funds
After e enter private practice as surveyor plus architect, Macaulay face financial wahala den misappropriate funds from estate wey e serve as executor for. Authorities uncover ein actions, try am, plus sentence am to two years insyd prison. Historian Patrick Dele-Cole outline evidence wey suggest say dem persecute Macaulay unfairly for ein 1913 trial. De prosecuting counsel, one Robert Irving, be Herbert Macaulay ein tenant wey fit pursue personal vendetta. Macaulay don obtain court order to evict Robert Irving on 3 December 1912. Macaulay ein lawyers face big difficulty to build strong defence during de case: for example, dem no fit find de police magistrate anywhere insyd Lagos to obtain bail. Other incidents include de acting Chief Justice wey fine Macaulay £100, even though five assessors for de court return not guilty verdict. Cole still emphasize Macaulay ein full transparency about de trust. According to Cole, “de will of de testatrix read in public at Macaulay ein request, plus de loan wey e obtain to clear de testatrix ein debts explain give de beneficiaries of de will (Macaulay ein niece be de principal beneficiary den she no engage Irving to prosecute de case), still dem convict am of ‘intent to defraud.’” Finally, Cole talk say Macaulay ein sentence of five years be “unusually severe.”

### Gunpowder Plot
Macaulay ein second legal problem centre around wetin later become de “Gunpowder Plot Case.” When de Privy Council decide say de exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko fit apply for writ of habeas corpus from one judge go anoda, Lagos burst with excitement, sake of say de decision show say de popular Oba fit come back to power. Macaulay ein Lagos Daily News publish one rumor say because of de Privy Council ein decision, de British colonial government for Lagos plan to blow up Oba Eleko ein vehicle. Insyd de Gunpowder Plot Case, Macaulay get sentence of six months for prison (insyd Broad Street Prison) plus hard labor without any option for fine. Macaulay be sixty-four years old during dis conviction, den de imprisonment increase Macaulay ein popularity insyd Nigeria.

## Feud plus Henry Carr
E no clear how de strong hatred between Macaulay plus Henry Carr take develop, but demma disputes dey well documented. Carr believe say Macaulay no get integrity plus e dey exploit de House of Dosunmu for personal gain. Insyd Carr ein diaries, e write about Macaulay say: “Among all human monsters wey we don meet, none show de devilish ingenuity like dis man,” den e conclude say Macaulay be “crooked mind plus dangerous fool.” Carr hate de political reality wey make Macaulay, even though e no fit join politics sake of ein criminal convictions, still become political kingmaker through Macaulay ein control of de NNDP.

De level of de strife between both men be so caustic wey insyd 1924, Macaulay publish one malicious account wey e title *Henry Carr Must Go*. For de slanderous publication, Macaulay falsely talk say Carr ein poppie, Amuwo Carr, desert ein wife come settle insyd Abeokuta as polygamist. Dis no be true sake of say Amuwo Carr die for Abeokuta from poor health plus e nearly blind. Macaulay ein wicked attacks on Carr for press shape how Lagosian public take see Carr as shy, distant plus aloof.

Macaulay, for ein own side, believe say Carr dey behind de political divisions for Lagos. E believe say Carr be responsible for de government's strong-head position on top de Oba Eleko land case. For de pamphlet *Henry Carr Must Go*, Macaulay write about Carr say: “He be without any possible doubt whatsoever, de Head Centre, de King Pin, de very mainspring of wetin ein own flatterers choose to call powerful influence or official support behind de renowned articulate minority wey Mr. Carr don throw ein full official prestige weight support for—plus dat one show intolerable partisanship...deadly plus detestable.”

## Twilight years den death
Insyd 1944, Macaulay co-found de National Council of Nigeria plus de Cameroons (NCNC) together plus Nnamdi Azikiwe den e become de president. De NCNC be patriotic organisation wey dem design to bring Nigerians from all corners together make dem demand independence.“Tell de National Council delegates make dem halt wherever dem dey for four days for Macaulay plus then carry on. 

Tell Oged make e keep de flag flying.”De leadership of de NCNC move go Azikiwe, wey later become de first president of Nigeria. Macaulay bury for Ikoyi Cemetery insyd Lagos on 11 May 1946. Nnamdi Azikiwe deliver funeral oration for Macaulay ein burial ceremony, plus Isaac Babalola Thomas, editor plus owner of de Akede Eko, be executor of Macaulay ein Last Will plus Testament.

## Macaulay papers at de University of Ibadan Library
Just like ein political enemy Henry Rawlingson Carr wey ein library den papers dey for University of Ibadan Library, Macaulay ein private collection wey dem call The Macaulay Papers dey for African Section of University of Ibadan Library. The Macaulay Papers get large collection of political pamphlets, newspapers den government documents. Dem still include personal papers, correspondences, diaries plus photographs.

## Honours
Dem feature Macaulay for de 1 Naira banknote from 1979 until 1991, when dem replace de note plus coin wey still portray Macaulay.

One biopic wey dem title *The Herbert Macaulay Affair*, wey cover about 3 decades of ein life, wey Nigerian filmmaker Imoh Umoren make wey na dem release am insyd 2019.

## References

**Sources**

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## External links