Edward Despard - Honduras

Honduras

Despard was subsequently made Superintendent of the Bay of Honduras (present-day Belize). He administered this British enclave until 1790 when, he had married a young black woman and staked his reputation on giving the same rights to freed slaves as to white settlers. This however did not go down to well with some of the settlers. These settlers then sent letters of protest to London and as result Despard was summoned back to London to explain himself. He was suspended by Home Secretary Lord Grenville and recalled to England. From 1790 to 1792 these charges were investigated, and he was suspended on half pay with his expenses from the Bay of Honduras withheld. Pursued by a further law suit from his enemies in the Bay, he was arrested and confined in the King's Bench debtor's prison from 1792 to 1794.