Past Governor of Trinidad And Tobago Sir Henry Moore Jackson

Henry Jackson

Sir Henry Moore Jackson

Fifth Governor of Trinidad and Tobago

Born in Grenada in 1849

Died on the 29th August 1908 London

Was the son of Walrond Jackson, who became the Anglican Bishop of Antigua.

He received his education in England at Clifton College and the Royal Military Academy. After his education, He went into the military, served in the Royal Artillery from 1870 to 1885, reaching the rank of captain. In 1880 while still in the Royal Artillery he was also appointed commandant of the Sierra Leone police.

It was after his military service that he became involved in the rule of British colonies.

Starting with his appointment as commissioner for Turks and Caicos Islands from 1885 to 1890 and then later as Colonial Secretary of the Bahama Islands from 1890 to 1893.

The next appointment came in 1894 when he was appointed as Colonial Secretary of Gibraltar from 1894 to 1901, where his education in science proved useful in implementing a plan to construct a new harbour.

In August 1901 he was appointed Governor of the Leeward Islands, but his tenure there was short as in June the following year he was appointed Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner of the Western Pacific.

He arrived in Fiji to take up the position in September 1902 and is credited as having promoted the idea of British rule to the natives of Fiji.

When he became Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, the colony was still suffering from the effects of the water riots. After years of untiring labour, the state of feeling in the colony was changed.

He became a devout Catholic in 1880, in recognition of his services to the church in the various colonies which he was connected he was made a member of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in 1904.

He received the honour of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1899. And shortly before his death, he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross in 1908.