Hubert Jerningham

Sir
Hubert Jerningham
KCMG DL
Governor of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
1897–1900
MonarchVictoria
Preceded bySir Frederick Broome
Succeeded bySir Cornelius Alfred Moloney
Governor of Mauritius
In office
1892–1897
MonarchVictoria
Preceded bySir Charles Lees
Succeeded bySir Charles Bruce
Personal details
Born(1842-10-18)18 October 1842
Died3 April 1914(1914-04-03) (aged 71)

Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham, KCMG, DL (18 October 1842[1] – 3 April 1914) was a British Liberal Party politician and Governor of Mauritius 1892–1897, then Governor of Trinidad and Tobago between 1897 and 1900.

Biography

Jerningham was the great-grandson of Nathaniel Middleton. His great-grandmother, Anne, was the daughter of a 'Jamaican of colour' called Elizabeth Augier.[2][3]

He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Berwick-upon-Tweed from 1881 to 1885.

He was appointed the 17th Governor of Mauritius, from 21 September 1892 to 15 January 1897, having been previously acting in the role from 12 March 1892 to 20 September 1892.

In June 1897 he was appointed Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, serving as such until December 1900. While he was Governor, the Trinidad Government Railway was extended from Cunupia to Tabaquite. The railway junction formed by this extension was named Jerningham Junction. He also instituted an award for the top student in the Island Scholarship examinations, a gold medal called the Jerningham Medal (today known as the President's Medal). Jerningham advised the Colonial Office to suspend the charter of the Borough of Port of Spain in 1898 following a dispute with the Borough Council. The borough charter was suspended on 1 January 1899; the suspension remained in effect until 1914. This action made Jerningham very unpopular with the population.

Jerningham was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Northumberland on 21 May 1901, after his return to the United Kingdom.[4] He was received in a customary stepping down audience by King Edward VII in January 1902.[5] He settled at Longridge Towers, where he had erected a stately home, said to among the largest private houses in that part of the country.

Family

Jerningham married in 1874 Annie Liddell, daughter of Edward Liddell, of Benton park, Northumberland. She was the widow of Charles Mather, and had inherited the Longridge Towers estate near Berwick-upon-Tweed and other property from her first husband. Lady Jerningham died at Longridge Towers on 9 October 1902.[6]

Sources

  • Anthony, Michael (2001). Historical Dictionary of Trinidad and Tobago. Scarecrow Press, Inc. Lanham, Md., and London. ISBN 0-8108-3173-2.
  • Historical list of MPs: B, part 2[usurped]

References

  1. ^ Mair, Robert Henry (1885). "Debrett's Illustrated House of Commons and the Judicial Bench".
  2. ^ Livesay, Daniel (11 January 2018). Children of Uncertain Fortune: Mixed-Race Jamaicans in Britain and the Atlantic Family, 1733-1833. UNC Press Books. ISBN 9781469634449.
  3. ^ "Plantation Families - Hampshire Archive Trust". 24 October 2022.
  4. ^ "No. 27317". The London Gazette. 24 May 1901. p. 3562.
  5. ^ "Court circular". The Times. No. 36679. London. 31 January 1902. p. 8.
  6. ^ "Obituary – Lady Jerningham". The Times. No. 36895. London. 10 October 1902. p. 9.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Berwick-upon-Tweed
1881–1885
With: David Milne Home 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Mauritius
1892–1897 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Trinidad and Tobago
1897–1900 		Succeeded by