358:. He was commissioned and fought in the Ninth Frontier War (1877–8) with "gallantry, energy and judgement". This was followed by further skirmishes and tribal unrest, before Walter returned to magisterial duties in 1881. His first task was to relocate the defeated tribes. The Report of the Thembuland Commission testifies to "the fairness of the magistrates and the tenacity with which they attempted to ensure their native charges were justly treated". He was also appointed to the Native Laws and Customs Commission, which was responsible for drafting a criminal code which recognised both African custom and European principles of justice.
38:
368:. This was a tricky appointment as there were constant border skirmishes, raids and friction with the neighbouring Mpondo tribe until Stanford negotiated a treaty, signed in 1886, despite unhelpful instructions from the Government and Prime Minister in Cape Town, which Stanford was able largely to ignore because of the distance by horse! In due course he was appointed C.M.G (Companion of the
428:
nothing. Walter also advocated the commission's recommendations that
Africans should have representation in Parliament. In 1904 he was recalled to Cape Town to head the Native Affairs Department but by 1907 his heart was under strain and he retired on medical advice. However, by 1908 he was so recovered that he stood for Parliament and was returned for Thembuland, as an Independent
508:(Prime Minister 1919–1924, 1939–48)) wrote to Alice: "I counted Sir Walter Stanford among those of my friends on whom I could rely for wise counsel and support and it is a deep sorrow that he has passed away. He has had an exceptional record of service to his country, and leaves behind a record of which we are all very proud".
420:. Walter was always sympathetic to the Transkeians. Known by them as 'Ndabeni' ('in the news'), he was deeply respected. His popularity was such that when Cape Town's first African township was set up in 1901, on Crown land near Maitland, following recommendations by a commission chaired by Stanford, it was named
383:. That this contentious act was achieved without bloodshed was largely due to the diplomacy of Stanford and other magistrates. Rhodes was not pleased by the magistrates' commitment to just and fair treatment of the natives, leading to some acrimony (for which Rhodes apologised to Stanford much later).
333:
in the Cape Colony on both his father's (William
Stanford) and his mother's (Joanna Warner) sides. Walter Ernest Mortimer was their second son, born at Alice on 2 August 1850. His father died in 1856 at the early age of 36 following amputation of a leg after a riding accident. His mother 'was a small
337:
Walter was in "poor health" so was sent at the age of 7 to live with his uncle Joseph Cox Warner in the
Queenstown district where the altitude might improve his strength, a strategy which seems to have been effective, judging by his long and strenuous career. He received some schooling from a maiden
312:
of 1909, which led to the Union of South Africa. He argued strongly for universal franchise, regardless of race and gender but his proposal was not accepted. From 1910 to 1929, he served in the Senate, nominated for his knowledge of the
African peoples. He was a colonel with the South African forces
299:
in 1891 and became responsible for the administration of eastern
Pondoland. In 1897 Stanford became under-secretary for native affairs in Cape Town, and subsequently the first chief magistrate of the newly formed Transkeian Territories. In 1904 he was appointed to the headship of the Native Affairs
477:
In
November 1914 he was sent to East Griqualand where there were fears of an armed uprising. He identified genuine grievances (related to sheep dipping regulations) made recommendations and negotiated a peaceful settlement. He returned to Cape Town and in 1918 became director of recruiting. At the
444:
was set up to advise on the nature and constitution of the Union, and
Stanford was appointed as one of the 30 members, reflecting the liberal view as well as the interests of the Transkei and other African communities. He put the interest of the great majority of the population before the need for
448:
Colonel
Stanford argued strongly for enfranchisement of the Native Peoples and asserted "there must be a just native policy". He formally proposed "that all subjects of His Majesty resident in South Africa shall be entitled to franchise rights irrespective of race or colour…” He argued that the
427:
From 1903 to 1905 Walter
Stanford was a member of the Native Affairs Commission 1903 which recommended, inter alia "that a central Native College be established for training native teachers and to afford opportunity for higher education to native students", although these high principles came to
345:
at Glen Grey. He thus entered the service of the department of
African affairs in which he was to remain for 45 years and through which "he was destined to exercise a profound influence on the development of South Africa". Responsibility came early: in his uncle's absence he became in effect the
645:
8090 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 JUNE 1919. UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA.To be Knights Commanders of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order :— Senator Colonel the Honourable Walter Ernest Mortimer Stanford, C.B., C.M.G., O.B.E, Director of war recruiting and Commissioner for returned
469:
Following the Union Stanford was nominated to the Senate on the basis of his experience with the African people, and continued to champion their cause until the outbreak of the First World War when he took up recruiting work for the army, serving with the
411:
and soon was placed in charge of a field force there. Following the war the Territories were consolidated under one magistrate, to which post Stanford was appointed in 1902. Remarkably the two assistant magistrates were his brothers: Robert at
489:
and served as a steward of the South African Turf Club for 20 years. He gave his time and energy to the Western Province Agricultural Society, the Church, and the Community Chest of Cape Town. In 1927 he was awarded the honorary degree of
399:
on a tour of the Eastern Province in 1899, explaining the African culture so coherently that Schreiner described the tour as "his road to Damascus" so profound a change did it make to his views on African policy.
300:
department, as well as chief magistrate. Special duties included roles as an adviser at the inter-state customs conference 1903, membership of the native affairs commission, 1903–1905, and acting as adviser to
452:
Despite his reputation and his understanding of African life he was unable to persuade the convention to adopt a universal franchise. The Convention did however agree to preserve the existing non-racial
758:
346:
agent, Her Majesty's representative to a semi-independent African tribe. He continued in Thembuland for six years, before moving to Queenstown and then East London as a servant of the department.
753:
440:
as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony, opening the way to convening representatives of the four hitherto rival South African colonies (Cape, Natal, Transvaal and Orange Free State). The
253:
501:
In 1933 Walter and Alice celebrated their golden wedding, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Soon afterwards Walter was taken ill and died on 9 September 1933.
261:
280:. At age 18 he joined the civil service and was stationed at Queenstown, East London and in 1876 was appointed magistrate to the Qwathi chief, Dalasile, and settled at
478:
end of the war he was appointed commissioner for returned soldiers. His lifelong services were recognised in 1919 with his appointment as Knight Commander of the
361:
In 1883 Walter married Alice Walker of Port Elizabeth, a long and happy marriage, with seven children: Walter, Dorothy, Robert, Alice, Arthur, Helen and Eileen.
304:, the British High Commissioner to South Africa) on Swazi affairs in 1906. Stanford entered the Cape Legislative Assembly in 1908 as an independent member for
763:
295:
Stanford was involved in negotiations with the Mpondo and in 1886 reached an agreement which provided for peaceful future relations. He was appointed
334:
woman of indomitable courage who continued trading, farming and transport-riding, while still finding time to encourage her sons to read and write".
338:
aunt, Mary Warner, and for two years attended the Lovedale Missionary Institution, finishing his formal education just before he turned twelve.
723:
301:
728:
441:
309:
257:
369:
296:
288:. He married Alice Sarah Walker in 1883 and they had three sons and four daughters. In 1885 he was promoted to chief magistrate of
733:
748:
596:
South African Native Affairs Commission, 1903-1905 Paperback – 28 August 2016 by South Africa Native Affairs Commission
479:
318:
395:, appointed Stanford under-secretary for native affairs, in Cape Town. Stanford accompanied the next prime minister,
341:
On 1 July 1863, just before his 13th birthday, Walter became a clerk under his uncle, the government agent to the
445:
unifying the two colonies and two former republics, all of them legislated for and governed solely by white men.
396:
364:
Two years later he was appointed chief magistrate and administrative head of East Griqualand, headquartered in
495:
273:
458:
375:
In 1894 the paramount chief of the Pondo died, leaving a leadership vacuum which led to a decision by
743:
738:
696:
269:
165:
137:
93:
37:
133:
392:
437:
404:
314:
289:
237:
233:
491:
461:, passed by Parliament in London in May 1910, which created the Union of South Africa.
119:
83:
717:
536:
Sir Walter Stanford his Forebears and Family, Celia Edey, 2017: Quickfox Publishing
486:
330:
265:(2 August 1850 – 9 September 1933) was a South African civil servant and politician.
376:
129:
690:
276:. He left school and became a clerk under his uncle, the government agent to the
454:
169:
498:, an honour he greatly valued. Senate work continued until he retired in 1929.
471:
355:
305:
285:
229:
219:
636:
P.M. Laurence: The life of John Xavier Merriman, Richard R. Smith Inc, 1930.
606:
Vigne, Randolph (2010). "A voice of the future in the National Convention".
505:
380:
185:
59:
408:
421:
413:
365:
281:
209:
689:
Stanford, Sir Walter Ernest Mortimer (1958). Macquarrie, J. W. (ed.).
537:
449:
franchise was the crux of the whole native question in South Africa.
417:
342:
308:
and was selected to represent the views of the African people at the
277:
354:
Walter advanced steadily and in 1876 was appointed magistrate to
571:
569:
407:
Stanford was the liaison between the Cape authorities and the
706:
The Inner History of the National Convention of South Africa;
485:
After the war Stanford remained busy. He helped found the
759:
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
754:
Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
225:
215:
205:
200:
192:
175:
152:
147:
125:
115:
99:
89:
79:
51:
23:
8:
36:
20:
16:South African civil servant and politician
424:in his honour at the residents' request.
692:The Reminiscences of Sir Walter Stanford
676:
655:
575:
560:
548:
524:
474:, of which he later became Hon Colonel.
329:Stanford was descended from the British
517:
667:Obituary, Cape Argus 27 September 1933
624:
7:
457:franchise and to entrench it in the
302:William Palmer, 2nd Earl of Selborne
764:Companions of the Order of the Bath
250:Sir Walter Ernest Mortimer Stanford
538:http://www.sirwalterstanford.co.uk
487:1820 Memorial Settlers Association
272:, in 1850 and was educated at the
52:Under-Secretary for Native Affairs
14:
704:Walton, Sir Edgar Harris (1912).
587:Cape Argus Weekly, 29 March 1905.
370:Order of St Michael and St George
42:Walter Stanford aged 33, in 1883
436:An election in 1908 brought in
695:. Vol. 1. Cape Town: The
1:
724:South African civil servants
391:In 1896 the prime minister,
708:. Cape Town: Maskew Miller.
480:Order of the British Empire
321:, and died age 83 in 1933.
317:. In 1919 he was appointed
780:
729:South African politicians
243:
196:Politician, civil servant
143:
104:
67:
56:
47:
35:
372:) for this achievement.
734:Cape Colony politicians
496:University of Cape Town
274:Lovedale Mission School
658:, pp. xxvi–xxvii.
409:Transkeian Territories
268:Stanford was born in
699:. GGKEY:43XWGFFCCHH.
697:Van Riebeeck Society
578:, pp. xxi–xxiv.
563:, pp. xv–xviii.
551:, pp. xiii–xiv.
504:Following his death
749:People from Kokstad
627:, pp. 118–145.
442:National Convention
432:National Convention
310:National Convention
270:Alice, South Africa
138:Henry Hugh Clifford
94:Henry Hugh Clifford
230:Ninth Frontier War
134:Henry Bartle Frere
679:, p. xxviii.
393:Sir Gordon Sprigg
247:
246:
30:
771:
709:
700:
680:
674:
668:
665:
659:
653:
647:
643:
637:
634:
628:
622:
616:
615:
603:
597:
594:
588:
585:
579:
573:
564:
558:
552:
546:
540:
534:
528:
522:
459:South Africa Act
438:John X. Merriman
264:
201:Military service
182:
179:9 September 1933
162:
160:
148:Personal details
109:
72:
40:
28:
21:
779:
778:
774:
773:
772:
770:
769:
768:
714:
713:
712:
703:
688:
684:
683:
675:
671:
666:
662:
654:
650:
644:
640:
635:
631:
623:
619:
608:Quart Bull NLSA
605:
604:
600:
595:
591:
586:
582:
574:
567:
559:
555:
547:
543:
535:
531:
523:
519:
514:
467:
434:
405:Second Boer War
389:
352:
327:
315:First World War
290:Griqualand East
252:
238:First World War
236:
234:Second Boer War
232:
184:
180:
164:
158:
156:
136:
132:
110:
105:
74:
68:
63:
43:
31:
26:
25:Walter Stanford
17:
12:
11:
5:
777:
775:
767:
766:
761:
756:
751:
746:
741:
736:
731:
726:
716:
715:
711:
710:
701:
685:
682:
681:
669:
660:
648:
638:
629:
617:
598:
589:
580:
565:
553:
541:
529:
516:
515:
513:
510:
492:Doctor of Laws
466:
463:
433:
430:
416:and Arthur at
397:W.P. Schreiner
388:
385:
351:
348:
326:
323:
245:
244:
241:
240:
227:
223:
222:
217:
213:
212:
207:
203:
202:
198:
197:
194:
190:
189:
188:, South Africa
183:(aged 83)
177:
173:
172:
154:
150:
149:
145:
144:
141:
140:
127:
123:
122:
117:
113:
112:
102:
101:
97:
96:
91:
87:
86:
81:
77:
76:
70:Assumed office
65:
64:
57:
54:
53:
49:
48:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
27:
24:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
776:
765:
762:
760:
757:
755:
752:
750:
747:
745:
742:
740:
737:
735:
732:
730:
727:
725:
722:
721:
719:
707:
702:
698:
694:
693:
687:
686:
678:
677:Stanford 1958
673:
670:
664:
661:
657:
656:Stanford 1958
652:
649:
642:
639:
633:
630:
626:
621:
618:
613:
609:
602:
599:
593:
590:
584:
581:
577:
576:Stanford 1958
572:
570:
566:
562:
561:Stanford 1958
557:
554:
550:
549:Stanford 1958
545:
542:
539:
533:
530:
526:
525:Stanford 1958
521:
518:
511:
509:
507:
502:
499:
497:
493:
488:
483:
481:
475:
473:
464:
462:
460:
456:
450:
446:
443:
439:
431:
429:
425:
423:
419:
415:
410:
406:
401:
398:
394:
386:
384:
382:
378:
373:
371:
367:
362:
359:
357:
349:
347:
344:
339:
335:
332:
331:1820 Settlers
324:
322:
320:
316:
311:
307:
303:
298:
293:
291:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
266:
263:
259:
255:
251:
242:
239:
235:
231:
228:
224:
221:
218:
214:
211:
208:
204:
199:
195:
191:
187:
178:
174:
171:
167:
163:2 August 1850
155:
151:
146:
142:
139:
135:
131:
128:
124:
121:
118:
114:
108:
103:
98:
95:
92:
88:
85:
82:
78:
71:
66:
62:
61:
55:
50:
46:
39:
34:
22:
19:
705:
691:
672:
663:
651:
641:
632:
620:
611:
607:
601:
592:
583:
556:
544:
532:
520:
503:
500:
484:
476:
468:
451:
447:
435:
426:
402:
390:
377:Cecil Rhodes
374:
363:
360:
353:
340:
336:
328:
294:
292:at Kokstad.
267:
249:
248:
226:Battles/wars
181:(1933-09-09)
130:Henry Barkly
106:
69:
58:
18:
744:1933 deaths
739:1850 births
625:Walton 1912
465:Later years
455:Cape Colony
403:During the
325:Early years
170:Cape Colony
718:Categories
512:References
472:Cape Corps
379:to annexe
356:Thembuland
350:Magistracy
306:Thembuland
286:Thembuland
220:Cape Corps
193:Occupation
159:1850-08-02
100:Magistrate
29:KBE CB CMG
506:Jan Smuts
387:Cape Town
381:Pondoland
186:Cape Town
111:1876–1886
107:In office
60:Incumbent
646:soldiers
126:Governor
120:Victoria
90:Governor
84:Victoria
494:by the
422:Ndabeni
414:Kokstad
366:Kokstad
313:in the
282:Engcobo
210:Colonel
116:Monarch
80:Monarch
614:: 117.
482:(KBE)
418:Umtata
343:Thembu
278:Thembu
284:, in
260:
256:
166:Alice
73:
216:Unit
206:Rank
176:Died
153:Born
75:1886
319:KBE
297:CMG
262:CMG
254:KBE
720::
612:64
610:.
568:^
258:CB
168:,
527:.
161:)
157:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
