Escombe, part of Queensburgh was named after Sir Harry
Escombe.
Sir Harry Escombe
Harry Escombe (25 July 1838 - 27 December 1899), South African
statesman, a member of a Somersetshire family, was born at Notting
Hill, London, and was educated at St Paul's School.
After four years in a stockbroker's office, he emigrated, in
1859, to the Cape. The following year he moved to Natal, and, after
trying other occupations, qualified as an attorney. He became
recognized as the ablest pleader in the colony, and, in 1872, was
elected for Durban as a member of the legislative council, and
subsequently was also placed on the executive council. In 1880 he
secured the appointment of a harbour board for Natal, and was
himself made chairman. The transformation of the port of Durban
into a harbour available for ocean liners was as a result of his
and Cathcart William Methven's work.
In 1888-1889 he defended Dinizulu and other Zulu chiefs against
a charge of high treason. For several years he opposed the grant of
responsible government to Natal, but by 1890 had become convinced
of its desirability, and on its conferment in 1893 he joined the
first ministry formed, serving under Sir John Robinson as
attorney-general. In February 1897, on Sir John's retirement,
Escombe became premier, remaining attorney-general and also holding
the office of minister of education and minister of defence.
In the summer of that year he was in London with the other
colonial premiers at the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of
Queen Victoria, and was made a member of the privy council.
Cambridge University conferred upon him the honorary degree of
LL.D. The election that followed his return to Natal proved
unfavourable to his policy, and he was succeeded in office, in
October 1897, by Sir Henry Binns KCMG. Throughout his life he took
an active interest in national defence. He had served in the Zulu
War of 1879, was commander of the Natal Naval Volunteers and
received the volunteer long service decoration. In October 1899 he
went to the northern confines of the colony to take part in
preparing measures of defence against the invasion by the
Boers.
Source: Wikipedia
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