Andrew Barkworth Wright

Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright KCMG CBE MC with Bar (30 November 1895 – 24 March 1971) was a British colonial administrator and army officer. He served as the Governor of British Cyprus from 1949 to 1954 and as Governor of the Gambia from 1947 to 1949.

Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright KCMG CBE MC with Bar
Governor of British Cyprus
In office 4 August 1949 – February 1954
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Reginald Fletcher, 1st Baron Winster
Succeeded by	Robert Perceval Armitage
Governor of the Gambia
In office 29 March 1947 – 1 December 1949
Monarch	George VI
Preceded by	Hilary Blood
Succeeded by	Percy Wyn-Harris
Colonial Secretary of Trinidad
In office 1943–1947
Personal details
Born	30 November 1895
Died	24 March 1971(1971-03-24) (aged 75)
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Jesus College, Cambridge

Early life and education

Wright was born in Mawgan-in-Meneage, Cornwall, the son of an Anglican clergyman. His heritage has been traced back to John I'Anson (1467–1546), who migrated from Belgium to Cumbria.^[1] He was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College from 1910 to 1914 and later at Jesus College, Cambridge. He served as an officer in the Suffolk Regiment during World War I and won the Military Cross (MC) in 1917.^[2]

Colonial service

Wright joined the civil service in British Cyprus in 1922 and, by 1937, had become its Colonial Secretary. He re-enlisted in the army during World War II but left in 1943 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to become Colonial Secretary of Trinidad. In January 1947, he was appointed Governor of the Gambia, and in 1948, he was knighted. During his tenure as Governor, the Colonial Development Corporation implemented the failed Yundum egg scheme and the marginal experimental rice farm at Wallikunda.^[2]

A lack of funds stifled Wright's efforts to improve the social and economic situations. However, during his time, the first direct election to the Legislative Council was organised in 1947, and Edward Francis Small was elected. He also adopted a policy of Africanization in the civil service and sought to reduce European privilege, for instance, by opening up the 'European block' at the Royal Victoria Hospital. In May 1949, it was announced that Wright would be transferred to Cyprus, where there was a deteriorating political situation. Due to his popularity in the Gambia, this sparked large-scale protests in Bathurst, led by Small and J. C. Faye.^[2]

During his time as Governor of British Cyprus, 96% of Greek Cypriots voted for a union with Greece in 1950.^[3] Wright retired from colonial service in 1953. He died in Lewknor, Oxfordshire, on 24 March 1971.^[2]

References

1. "The Descendants of John I'Anson 1" (PDF). Pennyghael.co.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
2. Perfect, David (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Gambia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. 448–449.
3. "30. British Cyprus (1914-1960)". University of Central Arkansas. Retrieved 12 July 2018.