George Frederic Augustus I
| George Frederic Augustus I | |
|---|---|
| King of The Miskitu Nation | |
| Reign | 1801–1824 |
| Coronation | 18 January 1816 |
| Predecessor | George II Frederic |
| Successor | Robert Charles Frederic |
| Born | 1798 |
| Died | March 1824 |
| Father | George II Frederic |
George Frederic Augustus I (1801 – 1824)[1]was king of the Miskitu Nation.
Succession and regency
George Fredrick Augustus was very young when his fraternal uncle Stephen murdered his father. His father who was pro-British had been very aware of his Brother Stephen’s pro-Spanish loyalties before he was killed.
However, General Robinson managed to organize a regency to prevent Stephen from taking power until George Frederic was of age. George Frederic maintained a fairly close connection to British authorities in Belize, for in 1802, British officials in Belize gave "the young King Frederick" and three of his "chiefs" gifts worth ₤40. At some later point before 1804, he was sent to Jamaica to be educated. In 1804, the regency was still in practice, with a balance maintained between Stephen and Robinson, the overseer of the young king.
Although subject to a regency, George Frederick did carry out some royal duties while he lived in Jamaica. A shipper named Peter Sheppard, who regularly traded between Jamaica and the Miskitu Coast during the period 1814 to 1839, testified that he carried various officials of the kingdom and subject peoples to visit the king in Jamaica, and the very least, he signed commissions to his officials.
George Frederic was crowned in Belize on 18 January 1816. According to the Superintendent, Sir George Arthur, George specifically requested that he be crowned in Belize, "in the presence of your chieftains," the 18 of January being the Queen of England's birthday. This coronation in Belize marked a shift from coronation in Jamaica to Belize.
George Frederic found it very difficult to establish his authority upon his return after the long period of time in Jamaica and absence from the Court. His two most powerful subordinates had used the regency to build local power bases. General Robinson, who ruled the Black River region, had not signed the act accepting him as king.
And, Governor Clementi, who ruled the territory just south of the royal court was also very powerful and refused to participate in many acts of government. There was also animosity against George Frederic by Admiral Earnee, who alleged rape of one of his wives by the young king.
George Frederic made a number of grants to various foreign groups. One of the most famous was the grant of a huge tract he made to Gregor McGregor in 1820, an area called Poyais, which encompassed lands once granted by George I to some Englishmen.
McGregor then created a fraudulent colonial scheme to bring European settlers there, when the settlers arrived, the king revoked the grant and required them to pay allegiance directly to him. He agreed to allow the Garifuna people, who were dissatisfied with their lives among the Spanish at Trujillo, affording them to settle in his lands, and gave them commissions.[2]
In March 1824, he was murdered as a result of being strangled by his wife and subsequently thrown into the river.[3]
References
- ^ Deborah Robb Taylor (2005). The Times & Life of Bluefields. Academia de Geografía e Historia de Nicaragua. p. 425. ISBN 978-99924-846-2-3.
- ^ "Jefes Hereditarios Miskitos (1865 -1894)". pueblosoriginarios.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
- ^ "Inca's and Miskito/Mosquito Indian History". realhistoryww.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.