Sir Bartle Frere
Who was he?
Wikipedia: Sir
Henry Bartle Edward Frere, 1st Baronet, GCB, GCSI, (29 March 1815 – 29
May 1884) was a British colonial administrator. He was elected a Fellow
of the Royal Society in May, 1877. Frere Hall in Karachi was built in
his honour. The city also named a road, street and town after him. In
1888, the Prince of Wales unveiled a statue of Frere on the Thames
embankment. Mount Bartle Frere (1622m), the highest mountain in
Queensland, Australia is named after him.
He was played by Sir John Mills in Zulu Dawn. His portrayal in the film
is negative. He is depicted as a corrupt, greedy, deeply racist
administrator who casually orders the invasion of Zululand after
issuing his unfair, biased, impossibly demanding ultimatum.
Why was he in Bath?
Frere was born at Clydach House, Clydach, Monmouthshire, the son of
Edward Frere, manager of Clydach Ironworks. It is thought he stayed in
the house shown below whilst attending Bath Grammar School. It may just
be coincidental, but a Mr Frere was responsible for overseeing the
construction of Bath Spa Railway Station (opened 1840) to the designs
of
Isambard Kingdom Brunel [
Forsyth 2003].
Location of plaque at 8, Norfolk Buildings:
The text reads
"Here lived Sir Bartle Frere 1829-1832"
Location map of 8, Norfolk Buildings:
(c) 2011
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