The History of Gibraltar - continuation of the 2nd Century under British ruleThe History of Gibraltar (2nd Century under the British flag) continues.
Governor Sir Robert Gardiner In comparison to timely arrival of Governor Sir George Don, Gibraltar was not so fortunate with the arrival of Sir Robert Gardiner in 1848. Gardiner was good at making enemies every where he went and within a month had alienated the loyalty of the Exchange Committee (representing the civilians), upset the resident naval Admiral, contradicted his orders from London and damaged Anglo-Spanish relations by ignoring the Spanish/international quarantine laws (without good reason). Spain closed the border and local trade faced ruin. Governor Gardiner wrote to Lord Palmerston, suggesting that the Rock of Gibraltar be renamed as a Crown Fortress and insisted that his rule should be free from local council interference as the local matters were not as important as the military. Gardiner had underestimated the power of the Exchange Committee who found help from their friends and contacts in Manchester to lobby Parliament. With the assistance of the Duke of Newcastle, Sir Robert Gardiner was recalled.
1855 saw the appointment of the new Governor, Lt. General Sir James Fergusson. A modern man ahead of his time, Sir James had his portrait (in the Convent) made by the relatively new photographic camera, as opposed to the traditional oil paints (a first in the history of Gibraltar). Sir James authorised for the streets of Gibraltar to be lit by gas lamp, rather than oil and for regular Government inspections to be carried out of the accounts, to ensure that profits over 10% were used to reduce the costs of gas to the public. In 1897 Gibraltar was to enjoy the new discovery of electricity (by the American, Thomas Edison) which powered both the streets and homes.
In the history of Gibraltar, the 19th century saw growth of the shipping agencies, some of which are still active two centuries later (Mateos, Blands and Smith Imossi). One agent, M H Bland, joined up with Middleton and Mackintosh in 1840 to expand their shipping business (Mackintosh was the father of Gibraltar’s great philanthropist to which John Mackintosh Square and John Mackintosh Hall have been named after). Steamers were purchased to tow sailing boats in and out of the harbour to prevent long delays and to rescue stranded vessels in the Strait. As there were no quays for deep sea vessels, fleets of lighters and harbour tugs were constantly used to unload ships anchored at sea. Gibraltar’s importance as a commercial port increased with the opening of the Suez Canal and coal bunkering developed to service steam ships. In 1884 the ‘Gibel Tarik’ was one of the first ships trading along the coast of Morocco and North Africa and was designed for both cargo holds and passenger comfort. Salvage companies, set up in the second half of the 19th century, were big business in the history of Gibraltar. In 1904 Blands beat their competitors by purchasing a torpedo boat called ‘Rocket’ which was fast enough to arrive on the scene of any salvage before other ships and would stand guard until its proper (slower) salvage ship had arrived.
Malta was happy to send its unemployed to Gibraltar in the latter half of the 19th century. Initially they were not very popular with Gibraltarians, some having criminal records (although very minor), but in time they settled and became a major part of the Gibraltarian life and history of Gibraltar. In 1869, with the opening of the Suez Canal, the first merchants from India arrived and now have a strong historical tie to Gibraltar. The entire Hindu community here can trace its origins to the city of Hyderabad, in Pakistan. For over fifty years the Indian community had no children born in Gibraltar, but would treat it just as a trading post and return to Indian for long periods. It was not until the 1920s that proprietors began to live on the Rock with their families.
Religion of Gibraltar has become one big melting pot! Gibraltar is a shining example of religious tolerance, strengthening community life. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus and Muslims all live side by side in Gibraltar with ease and harmony, ignoring the religious tensions of the rest of the world. In the 19th century education in Gibraltar played a very significant part (compared to other parts of the world) and in 1802 the first schools were opened, in the history of Gibraltar, by the Garrison to educate the military children. In the 1820s and 1830s the wealthy hired private tutors to educate their children, but there was no primary education for the poor until 1832 when the Wesleyans founded a free school for local children. The head of the Wesleyans, Mr. Rule, was establishing these schools to have a strong Wesleyan community in Gibraltar and by 1839 had 400 children in his classes (including many Catholics). This rang some alarm bells and soon the Roman Catholics and the Church of England set up their own schools by 1840. The Loreto Nuns free school for girls opened in 1845. An infant school commenced in 1851 and a Hebrew school in 1876. There were also a number of private schools which flourished in the 1890s. The Loreto Convent and Hebrew school are still going strong today.
Although a significant character in the history of Gibraltar, Dr Canilla (Catholic Vicar Apostolic) did not have a popular beginning with the Catholic elders as his appointment had not been approved by them. Dr Canilla also antagonised the richer members for their lack of generosity towards the poor children. His great work with the poor and in the field of education, creating over 2,000 free places in local schools, was eventually hailed by the Catholics, respected by the Protestants and recognised by the Jews, making him a significant contributor to the history of Gibraltar.
Although life was hard for most people on the Rock in the 19th century, some managed to find time for amusement. Entertainment was not always allowed by all the Governors on puritanical grounds or in fear of a threat to the military establishment by partying, civilian, gatherings. The opposite was more likely as the off-duty military had very little to entertain them as there were no sports facilities (even swimming in the sea was forbidden after first light). Instead the military would frequent the bars and beer houses, providing a drunken threat to the public. The Officers, however, were more privileged as they had the Calpe Hunt, their horses, the Regimental Balls, the Garrison Library and the (Royal) Gibraltar Yacht Club in 1829, not to mention a mistress over the border in nearby San Roque!
The Theatre Royal in Governor’s Parade opened in 1847 with a performance of Verdi’s “Nebuchadnezzar”. The high costs of such ambitious productions meant that the Theatre was only partly used for shows and therefore more available for dances and Balls given by the Merchants of Gibraltar. The Theatre’s brilliant gas lighting system was greatly admired, but also caused problems as a serious fire hazard, resulting in continuous negative press over disputes with the fire and sanitation inspectors. The Theatre was closed on and off for the next fifty years, but HOPEFULLY will be restored once again as this was a beautiful building that deserves to remain in the history of Gibraltar.
The History of Gibraltar would not be complete without the mention of the Racecourse on the Neutral Ground where this sport, of Kings, continued for almost two centuries. As from 1765 the race meetings had only been for the military and the first civilian race meetings were not held until 1869, when on track betting became official. Horse-racing and gambling gripped the Garrison, but also united the Spaniard (who loved gambling and horses) to the Gibraltarian. The racecourse disappeared to make way for the present airport.
Towards the end of the century, Britain had decided to negotiate with Spain an exchange of Gibraltar for the Spanish enclave, Ceuta (attached to North Africa). Some military and naval authorities in London preferred the Ceuta move as they felt that Gibraltar would not stand up to the new weapon technology and was vulnerable to gunfire and torpedoes. It was a relief to the Gibraltarians that a ‘no exchange’ lobby was won and a huge modernization plan for the dockyard put into place, costing £5 m (equivalent to around £150 m today). The dockyard development provided major employment opportunities in Gibraltar and for the Spaniards in La Linea and Algeciras.
In 1870 a telegraphic service was established between Gibraltar and England. In 1886 the first “Gibraltar” worded postage stamps were produced and the initial profits used to build a new lunatic asylum and rebuild the existing St Bernard’s hospital and in 1892 a railway was built connecting Algeciras to the Spanish railway network, enabling the Gibraltarians to visit the great Spanish cities for the first time.
After the death of Queen Victoria, her royal relatives would use the Royal Yacht, the Victoria and Albert, to cruise around the Mediterranean, often calling at Gibraltar to undertake their royal duty, respecting the British Empire. March 1901 saw the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) on a three day visit. In 1903 King Edward VII became the first reigning monarch to visit the Rock of Gibraltar, although he had visited before he was King (1859 and 1876). Gibraltar was truly in high-spirits with a show of loyalty and enthusiasm. Also, as the King of Spain was due to marry one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters, Gibraltar’s relations with Spain was at its best as the second century of British rule in the history of Gibraltar draws to a close.
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