The Colony of Demerara-Essequibo was created on 28 April 1812,[1] when the British combined the colonies of Demerara and Essequibo into the colony of Demerara-Essequibo.[2] They were officially ceded to Britain on 13 August 1814. On 20 November 1815, the agreement was ratified by the Netherlands.[3] On 21 July 1831, Demerara-Esequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana.[4]
Colony of Demerara-Essequibo | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1812–1831 | |||||||||||
 Flag | |||||||||||
 Map of Demerara-Essequibo following the slave rebellion in 1823, showing the disposition of plantations, Small crosses mark the places where slaves' heads or bodies were displayed | |||||||||||
| Status | De facto Colony of the United Kingdom (1812–1815) Colony of the United Kingdom (1815–1831) | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Dutch, Skepi Creole Dutch, English, Guyanese Creole, African languages, Akawaio, Macushi, Waiwai, Arawakan, Patamona, Warrau, Carib, Wapishana, Arekuna, Portuguese, Spanish, French | ||||||||||
| Monarch | |||||||||||
• 1812–1820 | George III | ||||||||||
• 1820–1830 | George IV | ||||||||||
• 1830–1831 | William IV | ||||||||||
| Lieutenant Governor | |||||||||||
• 1814–1824 | John Murray | ||||||||||
• 1824–1831 | Sir Benjamin d'Urban | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
• Established | 1812 | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 1831 | ||||||||||
| Currency | British variety of the Dutch guilder | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Overview
editIn 1745, Demerara was created as a separate Dutch colony out of a part of Essequibo.[5] Demerara quickly became more successful than Essequibo.[6] The rivalry between the colonies[7] resulted in the creation of a combined Court of Policy in Fort Zeelandia in 1783, and both colonies were governed by the same governor; however, there were still two Courts of Justice, one for Demerara and one for Essequibo.[8] On 28 April 1812, the two colonies were officially combined,[1] however 1815 is used as end date, because the ratification eliminated the last legal obstacles.[3]
On 18 August 1823, there was a slave rebellion involving more than 10,000 slaves, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of slaves.[9]
On 21 July 1831, Demerara-Esequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana.[4]
Currency
editThe colony continued to use Dutch currency throughout British control, with issued coins ranging from 3 bits up to 3 guilder. Coins bearing the colony's name were minted from 1809 to 1835. The Dutch currency was demonetised after unification and in 1839 was replaced with the British Guiana dollar.[10]
Administrators
editLieutenant Governors
edit- John Murray (1814–1824)
- Sir Benjamin d'Urban (1824–1831)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Netscher 1888, p. 290.
- ^ Schomburgk 1840, p. 86.
- ^ a b "Berbice". British Empire. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ a b "37. The Beginning of British Guiana". Guyana.org. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Hartsinck 1770, pp. 267–268.
- ^ Netscher 1888, p. 144.
- ^ Netscher 1888, p. 143.
- ^ "FROM DUTCH TO BRITISH HANDS (1783-1803)". Guyana.org. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ McGowan, Winston (2000). "The distinctive features of the 1823 Demerara slave rebellion". Starbroeck News. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
- ^ "Coin - 2 Guilders, Essequibo & Demerary, 1816". Museums Victoria. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Hartsinck, J.J. (1770), Beschryving van Guiana, of de wilde kust in Zuid-America, Amsterdam: Gerrit Tielenburg
- Netscher, Pieter Marinus (1888). Geschiedenis van de koloniën Essequebo, Demerary en Berbice, van de vestiging der Nederlanders aldaar tot op onzen tijd (in Dutch). The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.
- Schomburgk, Sir Robert H. (1840). A Description of British Guiana, Geographical and Statistical: Exhibiting Its Resources and Capabilities. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. ISBN 978-0714619491.