Frere,

Frere, SIR HENRY BARTLE EDWARD, diplomatist and administrator, was born near Abergavenny, 29th March 1815, and educated at Haileybury College for the Indian Civil Service, which he entered in 1834. After distinguishing himself as an administrator in Mahratna, he became British Resident at Sattara in 1847, and three years later chief-commissioner of Sind. There he began a series of useful works in the opening up of routes of communication, the cutting of canals, and the construction of a harbour at Kurrachee. This work was interrupted by the Mutiny. When the troubles began Bartle Frere's first step was to occupy the fortress of Moultan, in consequence of which he was able not only to keep his own province in subjection, but also to send help to his colleagues in the adjoining provinces. In 1862 he was appointed governor of Bombay, which post he held until his return to England in 1867. He was then knighted, and nominated a member of the Indian Council in London. Five years after his return home he was sent out to Zanzibar as a special commissioner to inquire into the slave-trade, and signed a treaty with the sultan abolishing the traffic in slaves with the interior of Africa. In 1877 he was appointed governor of the Cape and High Commissioner for the settlement of affairs in South Africa. It was intended that he should carry out the confederation of the South African colonies, but his purpose was frustrated by the action of the Boers and by the wars against the Kaffirs (1877-78) and the Zulus (1878-79). Respecting the justifiableness of this last war, and Sir Bartle Frere's treatment of the Zulu king, Cetewayo, there existed keen differences of opinion. Recalled by government in 1880, Sir Bartle devoted himself to his duties as president of various learned societies (Royal Asiatic, Geographical, &c.), and to the promotion of missionary work. From 1838 on he published numerous lectures, papers, and articles on Indian and African subjects, besides a memoir of his uncle, Hookham Frere (q.v.). He died at Wimbledon, 29th May 1884; and in 1888 the Prince of Wales unveiled a monument to him on the Thames Embankment. See his Life and Correspondence—a justification and defence—by J. Martineau (1895).