Thomas Upington
Encyclopedia
Thomas Upington born in Cork
, Ireland
, was a British
administrator
in South Africa
. He was premier of Cape Colony
between 1884 and 1886. The town of Upington
in South Africa is named after him.
Sir Thomas was born in Rathnee, near Mallow in 28th Oct. 1844. He was educated at Cloyne Diocesan School, Mallow, Co. Cork (where, in 1863,he obtained Mathematical Honors in the Hilary Examinations) and at Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1867. He became secretary to Lord O’Hagan (Lord Chancellor of Ireland) in 1868 and in January 1870 he appeared as register to the court in the appeal to the Visitors of the King and Queen’s College of Physicians by Dr MacSwiney against his rejection from a Fellowship in the college.
Thomas emigrated to the Cape Colony
in 1874 (probably for his health) and was elected to the Cape Legislature in 1878. While he was Attorney General
, in 1879 he was active in the war on the Northern border, although in a civil capacity - he did not hold any military command. He was on “the northern bank of the Orange River
at the time of the last attack, only it was thought Claus Lucas would have surrendered, and in that case Mr Upington wished to superintend the negotiations himself” Irish Times 6 June.
He raised the military unit known as "Upington’s Foot" and served in the so-called “9th Kaffir War, 1877-79” for which he received the "South Africa Medal 1877-9 (sometimes called the South Africa General Service Medal 1877-9 and sometimes the South Africa War Medal 1877-9). Upington's Foot was one of the 240 (mostly small) South African locally raised units which took part. It had only 30 members and fought against the Gcalekas and Gaikas in the Transkei
.
He became the fourth Prime Minister
of the Cape Colony in 1884, in which capacity he travelled with John Gordon Sprigg
(who at the time was Treasurer General for the Cape Government) “to Bechuanaland, in the endeavour to effect a peaceful arrangement”. He was in sympathy with the Boers in this controversy concerning Bechuanaland and was accused of propounding Parnellite principles and denounced in Cape Town
as a Fenian whose ‘offence is rank’, and who “has been fraternising with Mynheer Van Dunk instead of sticking with John Bull”.
In 1885 he oversaw the opening of the railway line from Cape Town to Kimberley. In many ways, as Prime Minister
of the Cape
he was seen as having more in common with the locally-oriented policies of the earlier Molteno
and Scanlen
governments, as opposed to the pro-imperialist policies of subsequent ministers such as Rhodes
and Jameson
.
In 1885 he became Lieutennant Colonel, commanding the 1st Administrative Battalion, made up of the Cape Town Highlanders and two small corps. Later in 1887, he was made a Knight companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (per South Africa, 17 December 1898, pp. 591–2).
The Pall Mall Gazette, in 1890, described him as “the crack speaker, brilliant and sarcastic . . . The clubland of Capetown looks to him as its humorous and sententious orace: he is a good hand at cards and the best of good company. . . He often looks and often professes to be with one foot in the grave, and his most brilliant efforts are said to be made after a few weeks’ light diet of champagne (doctor’s orders). His robustest friends, however, expect him to survive to crack jokes on their epitaphs.”
Sir Thomas Upington died on 10 December 1898 at Wynberg, Cape Town
. He was survived by his widow Mary Elizabeth Guerin of Edenhill, Mallow/Fermoy, Cork, and by his children: Beauclerk, Arthur, Edith, Florence and Evelyn.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
administrator
Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was premier of Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
between 1884 and 1886. The town of Upington
Upington, Northern Cape
Upington is a town founded in 1884 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was named after Sir Thomas Upington, Attorney-General and then Prime Minister of the Cape. It originated as a mission station established in 1875 and run by...
in South Africa is named after him.
Sir Thomas was born in Rathnee, near Mallow in 28th Oct. 1844. He was educated at Cloyne Diocesan School, Mallow, Co. Cork (where, in 1863,he obtained Mathematical Honors in the Hilary Examinations) and at Trinity College, Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1867. He became secretary to Lord O’Hagan (Lord Chancellor of Ireland) in 1868 and in January 1870 he appeared as register to the court in the appeal to the Visitors of the King and Queen’s College of Physicians by Dr MacSwiney against his rejection from a Fellowship in the college.
Thomas emigrated to the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
in 1874 (probably for his health) and was elected to the Cape Legislature in 1878. While he was Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, in 1879 he was active in the war on the Northern border, although in a civil capacity - he did not hold any military command. He was on “the northern bank of the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
at the time of the last attack, only it was thought Claus Lucas would have surrendered, and in that case Mr Upington wished to superintend the negotiations himself” Irish Times 6 June.
He raised the military unit known as "Upington’s Foot" and served in the so-called “9th Kaffir War, 1877-79” for which he received the "South Africa Medal 1877-9 (sometimes called the South Africa General Service Medal 1877-9 and sometimes the South Africa War Medal 1877-9). Upington's Foot was one of the 240 (mostly small) South African locally raised units which took part. It had only 30 members and fought against the Gcalekas and Gaikas in the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
.
He became the fourth Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Cape Colony in 1884, in which capacity he travelled with John Gordon Sprigg
John Gordon Sprigg
Sir John Gordon Sprigg GCMG PC was a British administrator, politician and four-time prime minister of the Cape Colony.-Early life:Sprigg was born in Ipswich, England, into a strongly Puritan family...
(who at the time was Treasurer General for the Cape Government) “to Bechuanaland, in the endeavour to effect a peaceful arrangement”. He was in sympathy with the Boers in this controversy concerning Bechuanaland and was accused of propounding Parnellite principles and denounced in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
as a Fenian whose ‘offence is rank’, and who “has been fraternising with Mynheer Van Dunk instead of sticking with John Bull”.
In 1885 he oversaw the opening of the railway line from Cape Town to Kimberley. In many ways, as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of the Cape
Cape
Cape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
he was seen as having more in common with the locally-oriented policies of the earlier Molteno
John Charles Molteno
Sir John Charles Molteno KCMG was a soldier, businessman, champion of responsible government and the first Prime Minister of the Cape Colony.-Early life:...
and Scanlen
Thomas Charles Scanlen
Thomas Charles Scanlen was a politician, British administrator and Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1881 to 1884.Scanlen was born 9 July 1834 on Longford Farm in the district of Albany in the Cape Colony...
governments, as opposed to the pro-imperialist policies of subsequent ministers such as Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes
Cecil John Rhodes PC, DCL was an English-born South African businessman, mining magnate, and politician. He was the founder of the diamond company De Beers, which today markets 40% of the world's rough diamonds and at one time marketed 90%...
and Jameson
Leander Starr Jameson
Sir Leander Starr Jameson, 1st Baronet, KCMG, CB, , also known as "Doctor Jim", "The Doctor" or "Lanner", was a British colonial statesman who was best known for his involvement in the Jameson Raid....
.
In 1885 he became Lieutennant Colonel, commanding the 1st Administrative Battalion, made up of the Cape Town Highlanders and two small corps. Later in 1887, he was made a Knight companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (per South Africa, 17 December 1898, pp. 591–2).
The Pall Mall Gazette, in 1890, described him as “the crack speaker, brilliant and sarcastic . . . The clubland of Capetown looks to him as its humorous and sententious orace: he is a good hand at cards and the best of good company. . . He often looks and often professes to be with one foot in the grave, and his most brilliant efforts are said to be made after a few weeks’ light diet of champagne (doctor’s orders). His robustest friends, however, expect him to survive to crack jokes on their epitaphs.”
Sir Thomas Upington died on 10 December 1898 at Wynberg, Cape Town
Wynberg, Cape Town
Wynberg is a southern suburb of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape, South Africa. It is situated between Plumstead and Kenilworth, and is a main transport hub for the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.- Geography :...
. He was survived by his widow Mary Elizabeth Guerin of Edenhill, Mallow/Fermoy, Cork, and by his children: Beauclerk, Arthur, Edith, Florence and Evelyn.