James Pinson Labulo Davies

A portrait of James Pinson Labulo Davies, photographed in London in 1862
A portrait of James Pinson Labulo Davies and Sarah Forbes Bonetta, photographed in London in 1862

James Pinson Labulo Davies (August 14, 1828[1] - April 29, 1906[2]) popularly known as "Captain Davies" or "J.P.L Davies", was a 19th-century African merchant-sailor, naval officer, influential businessman, farmer, pioneer industrialist, statesman, and philanthropist (who was married to Sarah Forbes Bonetta) in colonial Lagos.[3]

Early Life, Education, and Naval Career

J.P.L Davies was born to James and Charlotte Davies in the village of Bathurst, Sierra Leone. James and Charlotte were repatriated Yoruba people rescued by the British West Africa Squadron from the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, and whose origins were in Abeokuta and Ogbomoso respectively[1] J.P.L. Davies entered Church Missionary Society (CMS) Grammar School (now known as Sierra Leone Grammar School) in Freetown in 1848 where he studied Mathematics, Greek, Biblical and English History, Geography, Music, and Latin. After completing his secondary education, he became a teacher with the CMS in Freetown. After his stint as a teacher J.P.L Davies enlisted as a cadet with the British Navy's West Africa Squadron, specifically the HMS Volcano under Commander Robert Coote where he was trained in navigation and seamanship. Davies progressed from cadet to midshipman and eventually lieutenant.

Participation in the Lagos Bombardment of 1851 and Merchant Vessel Career

Davis was a Lieutenant aboard HMS Bloodhound during the Lagos Bombardment under the command of Commander Wilmot and Commodore Bruce and in which Oba Kosoko was ousted resulting in the ascension of Oba Akitoye. During the bombardment the British Navy lost 2 officers and 10 men were wounded.[4] Lieutenant Davis was among the wounded.[5] Davis retired from the navy in 1852 and offered his services as a merchant vessel captain traversing the West African coast. He eventually settled in Lagos in 1856 where he became known as "Captain J.P.L Davies".

Marriage to Sarah Forbes Bonetta

In August 1862, Captain Davies married Sarah Forbes Bonetta, a woman with a very interesting life story and who was a protegee of Queen Victoria.[6] Sarah Forbes Bonetta, originally named Aina, was a slave who was liberated by Captain Forbes of the Bonetta after a meeting with King Ghezo of Dahomey (Aina's village in Okeadan was raided by Dahomean warriors and she was sold into slavery in King Ghezo's court).

Business Dealings, Philanthropy, Establishment of CMS Grammar School and Participation in Politics

J.P.L Davies was also a close associate and friend of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther.[7] Both men collaborated on a couple of Lagos social initiatives such as the opening of The Academy (a social and cultural center for public enlightenment) on October 24, 1866 with Bishop Crowther as the 1st patron and Captain J.P.L Davies as 1st president.[8]

The seed funding for CMS Grammar School, Lagos was made possible by Captain Davies who in April 1859 provided Reverend Thomas Babington Macaulay with £50 (purchasing power of ₦1.34 million as of 2014) to buy books and equipment. With the seed funding Macaulay opened CMS Grammar School on June 6, 1859.[9] In 1867, Captain Davies contributed another £100 (purchasing power of ₦2.68 million as of 2014) toward a CMS Grammar School Building Fund.[10] Other contributors to the CMS Building Fund were non Saros such as Daniel Conrad Taiwo AKA Taiwo Olowo who contributed £50. Saro contributors also included men such as Moses Johnson, I.H. Willoughby, T.F. Cole, James George, and Charles Foresythe who contributed £40.[11]

Death

Captain Davies died peacefully at his Lagos home on August 29, 1906 and was buried at Ajele Cemetery in Lagos on August 30, 1906.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Elebute, Adeyemo. The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos. Kachifo Limited/Prestige. p. 1. ISBN 9789785205763.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Elebute, Adeyemo. The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos. Kachifo Limited/Prestige. p. 234. ISBN 9789785205763.
  3. ↑ Andrew G. Lawrence; Afe Adogame. Africa in Scotland, Scotland in Africa: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Hybridities. p. 123. ISBN 978-9-00-4276-9-01. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  4. ↑ Smith, Robert. The Lagos Consulate 1851-1861. Macmillan. p. 27. ISBN 9780520037465.
  5. ↑ Elebute, Adeyemo. The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos. Kachifo Limited/Prestige. p. 9. ISBN 9789785205763.
  6. ↑ Herskovits Kopytoff, Jean. A preface to modern Nigeria: the "Sierra Leonians" in Yoruba, 1830-1890. University of Wisconsin Press, 1965. p. 286.
  7. ↑ Elebute, Adeyemo. The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos. Kachifo Limited/Prestige. p. 169. ISBN 9789785205763.
  8. ↑ Adedeji, J.A. The Church and the Emergence of the Nigerian Theatre, 1866-1914. Journal of Historical Society of Nigeria.6.1. p. 228.
  9. ↑ Elebute, Adeyemo. The Life of James Pinson Labulo Davies: A Colossus of Victorian Lagos. Kachifo Limited/Prestige. p. 190. ISBN 9789785205763.
  10. ↑ Herskovits Kopytoff, Jean. A preface to modern Nigeria: the "Sierra Leonians" in Yoruba, 1830-1890. University of Wisconsin Press, 1965. p. 244.
  11. ↑ Herskovits Kopytoff, Jean. A preface to modern Nigeria: the "Sierra Leonians" in Yoruba, 1830-1890. University of Wisconsin Press, 1965. p. 365 note 87.