Ray Beachey
Encyclopedia
Raymond Wendell Beachey was a Canadian educator, historian and academic best known for his work at Makerere University
in Uganda
in the 1950s and 1960s. In this capacity he tutored many important African leaders including Benedicto Kiwanuka
, Yusuf Lule
and Mwai Kibaki
, but was concerned that Uganda was not ready for independence at the time it was granted and saw the dicatorial regimes of Idi Amin
and Milton Obote
as the result of the haste with which the British withdrew from the country. He was also an historian of East Africa and published a number of important reference works on the subject.
, and worked at logging camps to pay for his education before obtaining a job in fianance in Ottawa and subsequently joining the Royal Canadian Air Force
during the Second World War. He served in Europe and saw action, but suffered from depression and spent some time in a psychiatric unit. After the war he married Urusula Molloy and returned to Canada, taking a degree at Queen's University
in Ontario followed by a PhD in Imperial History at the University of Edinburgh
.
On graduation, Beachey took a position lecturing at Makerere University in Kampala
, where many of his students would later become government ministers in Uganda and Kenya
. Among his colleagues at this time were V S Naipaul and Paul Theroux
, the latter describing him as "the gentle Canadian". Beachey found his African students to be more dedicated than those he had taught in Canada, but following Ugandan independence in 1962 he became increasingly concerned that the country was unprepared for self-government and left in 1968. The murder of his former student Benedicto Kiwanuka and the ensuing brutal reigns of Idi Amin and Milton Obote strengthened his opinion - on one occasion a former colleague who had suffered torture at the hands of Obote's men begged him to work towards a return of British rule in the country.
After leaving Africa, Beachey held positions at King's College, London and the University of Waterloo
in Canada before retiring in Hampshire
in 1978. He lived there for the rest of his life, dying in July 2010. As well as his university work, Beachey was an important historian of East Africa, publishing numerous reference works on the region. He was also a collector of Persian carpets and travelled extensively in the Middle East
.
Makerere University
Makerere University , Uganda's largest and second-oldest higher institution of learning, , was first established as a technical school in 1922. In 1963 it became the University of East Africa, offering courses leading to general degrees from the University of London...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
in the 1950s and 1960s. In this capacity he tutored many important African leaders including Benedicto Kiwanuka
Benedicto Kiwanuka
Benedicto Kabimu Mugumba Kiwanuka was the first Prime Minister of Uganda, leader of the Democratic Party and one of the early leaders that led the country in the transition between colonial British rule and independence...
, Yusuf Lule
Yusuf Lule
Yusuf Kironde Lule was provisional president of Uganda between 13 April and 20 June 1979. His name is sometimes spelled Yusufu.-Early years:...
and Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
, but was concerned that Uganda was not ready for independence at the time it was granted and saw the dicatorial regimes of Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
and Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
as the result of the haste with which the British withdrew from the country. He was also an historian of East Africa and published a number of important reference works on the subject.
Life
Beachey was born in the village of Trout Creek, OntarioTrout Creek, Ontario
Trout Creek is a community located on Highway 11 in Northern Ontario, 12 kilometres south of Powassan. A designated place within the municipal boundaries of Powassan, Trout Creek is in the eastern end of the District of Parry Sound....
, and worked at logging camps to pay for his education before obtaining a job in fianance in Ottawa and subsequently joining the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
during the Second World War. He served in Europe and saw action, but suffered from depression and spent some time in a psychiatric unit. After the war he married Urusula Molloy and returned to Canada, taking a degree at Queen's University
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
in Ontario followed by a PhD in Imperial History at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
On graduation, Beachey took a position lecturing at Makerere University in Kampala
Kampala
Kampala is the largest city and capital of Uganda. The city is divided into five boroughs that oversee local planning: Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division and Lubaga Division. The city is coterminous with Kampala District.-History: of Buganda, had chosen...
, where many of his students would later become government ministers in Uganda and Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. Among his colleagues at this time were V S Naipaul and Paul Theroux
Paul Theroux
Paul Edward Theroux is an American travel writer and novelist, whose best known work of travel writing is perhaps The Great Railway Bazaar . He has also published numerous works of fiction, some of which were made into feature films. He was awarded the 1981 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his...
, the latter describing him as "the gentle Canadian". Beachey found his African students to be more dedicated than those he had taught in Canada, but following Ugandan independence in 1962 he became increasingly concerned that the country was unprepared for self-government and left in 1968. The murder of his former student Benedicto Kiwanuka and the ensuing brutal reigns of Idi Amin and Milton Obote strengthened his opinion - on one occasion a former colleague who had suffered torture at the hands of Obote's men begged him to work towards a return of British rule in the country.
After leaving Africa, Beachey held positions at King's College, London and the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
in Canada before retiring in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
in 1978. He lived there for the rest of his life, dying in July 2010. As well as his university work, Beachey was an important historian of East Africa, publishing numerous reference works on the region. He was also a collector of Persian carpets and travelled extensively in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Works
- The British West Indies Sugar Industry in the Late 19th Century, 1957
- The Slave Trade of Eastern Africa, 1976
- The Warrior Mullah, 1990
- A History of East Africa, 1592-1902, 1995