A brief history of Herbert Macaulay‘s life:
Herbert Macaulay was the son of Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Crowther, both of whom were children of captured slaves from Nigeria. Ojo Oriare and Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Herbert’s grandparents, were among the slaves who were resettled in Sierra Leone by the British West Africa Squadron. Herbert’s father, Thomas Babington Macaulay, later became a priest and educator. In 1859, he founded the CMS Grammar School in Lagos, Nigeria- the first secondary school in the country. Thomas served as the school’s first principal, and oversaw a curriculum that included English, Logic, Greek, Arithmetic, Geometry, Geography, History, Bible Knowledge and Latin.
It is safe to say that Thomas Babington Macaulay would be proud to know that his son later attended the very same school. Herbert went on to study civil engineering in Plymouth, England, and graduated from the Royal Institute of British Architects, London. He later returned to Nigeria, where he became an important political figure. In brief, Herbert Macaulay was a man of many accomplishments – all of which can be traced back to his humble beginnings as the son of captured slaves. Thanks to his father’s vision and determination, Herbert was given a chance to thrive and make a difference in the world.
Herbert Macaulay developed into an interesting character. He initially worked as a private surveyor, but by the end of the 1900s, he had become involved in Lagos society and started to take an interest in politics. In 1923, he founded the NNDP, which campaigned against the British rule in Lagos. Macaulay was a charismatic leader and quickly gained support for his cause. His activities led to him becoming one of the most famous political activists of his time. However, by the time he joined forces with Nnamde Azikiwe 1944 to form the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons, his views had changed dramatically and he became a fierce advocate for independence from Britain. As a result of his tireless efforts, Nigeria finally gained independence from Britain in 1960.
Herbert was a man who had a moderate outlook about British rule. He began his career as a land inspector in the Lagos Colony, but he quickly grew disillusioned with the British government’s treatment of Yorubaland and the Niger Coast Protectorate. In September 1898, he resigned from his post in protest. In all likelihood, Macaulay would have been appalled at the thought of Nigeria ever becoming a colony again. But that’s just what happened when Britain granted Nigeria independence in 1960. Thankfully, Macaulay wasn’t alive to see it – he died in 1946, 14 years before Nigeria became a British colony once more.
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Herbert Macaulay is recognised as a man that possessed the ability to charm his way into any office and extract classified information. “He ran a network of informants who he paid handsomely, and oftentimes, minutes from colonial government meetings would be leaked in newspapers that Macaulay was associated with. Whole sections of colonial government files and telegrams can be found in the Macaulay Papers at the Africana section of the British Library”. The man was a veritable goldmine of classified information – and he knew how to use it to his advantage. More than once, he thwarted the colonial government’s plans by leaking their classified information to the public.
Herbert Macaulay opposed every attempt by the British authorities to expand their administration, as detrimental to the interests of indigenous Nigerians, who inevitably would be forced to pay the bills in taxes. He agitated against the payment of water rates in 1915 and, new tax on ibus (a type of transportation). Herbert Macaulay also fought against a segregationist society. The British rulers lived in the posh Marina district, the Saros and other slave descendants lived to the west, and the Brazilians who lived behind the Whites in the Portuguese Town. The Yoruba people were disliked and generally ignored by their privileged neighbours. Herbert Macaulay was one of those brave few, only a small minority of Lagosians were willing to challenge the status quo. He dedicated his life to fighting for justice and he is remembered as one of the most important figures in Lagos history.
Macaulay wrote: “The dimensions of “the true interests of the natives at heart” are algebraically equal to the length, breadth and depth of the Whiteman’s pocket.”
Herbert Macaulay worked tirelessly to expose corruption and fight for the rights of the people. According to report, in 1908, he exposed the colonial corruption in the handling of railway finances, and in 1919 he successfully argued for the return of land taken from the chiefs by the British. Macaulay also found himself at odds with the colonial government on three major issues prominent at the time: the proposed water rate, selection of the Oba of Lagos, and the Imamate of the Lagos Central Mosque.
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On each of these issues, Macaulay took a stand against the colonial government and their policies, and he was a major supporter of the House of Docemo in Lagos. He also worked with the Ilu Committee – composed of the Oba of Lagos and traditional chiefs – to oppose some of the colonial government’s policies. In addition to his political work, Macaulay also co-founded the Nigerian Daily News, which was an important platform for sharing news and information with the people of Lagos. Articles also included Justitia Fiat: The Moral Obligation of the British Government to the House of Docemo. He also wrote a piece titled Henry Carr Must Go. Herbert Macaulay’s work had a profound impact on Lagos during this time period.
It is fitting that the NCNC, a patriotic organization devoted to Nigerian independence, was founded by Herbert Macaulay. A man of many talents, Macaulay was a surveyor, journalist, and politician who dedicated his life to the betterment of his country. Though he fell ill in 1946 and died soon after, his legacy lived on in the NCNC and its leader, Azikiwe, the first President of Nigeria. Today, Macaulay is remembered not only for his role in the independence movement but also for his vast collection of papers, which provide an invaluable record of Nigerian history. The Macaulay Papers, housed at the University of Ibadan Library, include everything from government documents to personal correspondence, diaries, and photographs. These papers offer a unique glimpse into the mind of one of Nigeria’s most important patriots.
