Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 14035 - Postal History, Autographs and Historical Documents
Lot: 3068

Historical Documents
Sir Benjamin Pine
1859 (28 November) duplicate contract of marriage between Sir Benjamin Pine Knight, Lieutenant Governor of the Islands of St. Christopher and Anguilla and Marguretta Anna Simpson. A long and elaborate, thirteen page document. With Scotland Crown datestamps, 5/- embossed revenue and embossed duplicate stamp. Unusual

Sir Benjamin Chilley Campbell Pine (1809–1891)

In 1848 he acted temporarily as governor of Sierra Leone, and displayed much military capacity. He was present at the expedition to the Sherbro River, and helped to destroy a strong stockaded fort, whence the natives had harried the neighbourhood. In the following year his vigorous policy put an end to the civil war in the same district.

This success led to his appointment in 1849 as second governor of the infant colony of Natal. During the Kaffir war in the south-west he preserved peace within his territory, and received the thanks of the home government. In 1855 he led a force of volunteers against the Amabacas and enforced their submission. In 1856 Pine returned to the west coast as governor of the Gold Coast Colony, and was knighted. In May 1859 he went to the less trying climate of St. Christopher, West Indies, as lieutenant governor.

At that time each of the Leeward Islands, of which St. Christopher's formed part, was governed practically as a separate colony in a loose confederation, with a governor-in-chief at Antigua. Pine recommended that the government should be made federal, with a central authority at Antigua. In 1866 he was temporarily acting as governor of Antigua, and helped to persuade the legislature to reform the constitution. He did the same in his own island of St. Christopher. The home government adopted his views, and in February 1869 he was appointed governor-in-chief of the Leeward Isles, with a mandate to carry out his scheme. On 23 June 1870, in an exhaustive address, he laid his project before the council of Antigua, and in the course of the year carried it in all the islands. He was thus the first governor under the federal constitution of the Leeward Islands. He was made a K.C.M.G. in June 1871 for his services. In 1873, before he had finished his term as governor-in-chief at Antigua, he was sent back to his old colony of Natal. He retired on a pension in 1875.

He was twice married: first, in 1841, to Elizabeth, daughter of John Campbell, who died in 1847; secondly, in 1859, to Margaretta Anne, daughter of Colonel John Simpson of the Bengal army.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£260