Cape Colony
In April 1843 Montagu took up duties as colonial secretary to the Cape of Good Hope, where he did useful work. Soon after his arrival he "ascertained that there was a large amount of revenue many years overdue, and set about collecting it with an intensity of purpose from which even pity for the distressed was absent". Montagu introduced a system of constructing roads by convict labour, and worked with great energy for the good of the colonies in many other directions. Montagu Pass near George, built by an Australian named Henry Fancourt White in 1843-47, was named in his honour, as was the town of Montagu. Over-work on constitutional changes which were taking place in the government, led to a nervous breakdown in 1852, and on 2 May he left for England. He never fully recovered his health and died on 4 November 1853; he is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.
Read more about this topic: John Montagu (colonial Secretary)
Famous quotes containing the words cape and/or colony:
“Wishing to get a better view than I had yet had of the ocean, which, we are told, covers more than two thirds of the globe, but of which a man who lives a few miles inland may never see any trace, more than of another world, I made a visit to Cape Cod.... But having come so fresh to the sea, I have got but little salted.”
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