caption death_date image_size birth_date image article_title name occupation
engraving woodford 's death . by charles turner made in 1829 , after 17 may 1828 200px 1784 sir ralph james woodford.jpg ralph james woodford
 sir ralph james woodford diplomat
ralph james woodford

sir ralph james woodford , 2nd baronet of carleby , lincolnshire -lrb- 1784 -- 17 may 1828 -rrb- , was the longest-serving governor of trinidad .
young and energetic , from 1813 he sought to bring order to trinidad society and greatly improved the public infrastructure , especially in port of spain .
at the same time , he institutionalised class and racial divisions and was not in favour of emancipation .
his governorship was cut short by his death at sea .
