Somerset, Lord Charles Henry (1767-1831), was appointed governor of the Cape Colony, South Africa, in 1814. His attempts to safeguard the colony’s eastern frontier failed when the Xhosa invaded the colony in 1819. His dictatorial manner provoked clashes with British officials, missionaries, and British settlers who arrived in 1820. This conflict led to a commission of inquiry. Somerset was cleared of all charges but resigned in 1827.
Charles Henry Somerset was born on Dec. 12, 1767, in Badminton, Gloucestershire, England. He joined the Army at 17 and gained a Master of Arts degree from Oxford University. In South Africa, Somerset encouraged horse breeding, racing, and hunting. He also introduced Merino sheep to improve wool farming. During his term as governor, he established several towns, schools, and hospitals, a public library, and a museum. Somerset died on Feb. 20, 1831.
