Demerara-Essequibo

Former British colony in South America

Colony of Demerara-Essequibo

1812–1831

Flag

Map of Demerara-Essequibo following the slave rebellion in 1823, showing the disposition of plantations, Small crosses mark the places where slaves' heads or bodies were displayed

Status| De facto Colony of the United Kingdom (1812–1815)
Colony of the United Kingdom (1815–1831)
Common languages| Dutch, Skepi Creole Dutch, English, Guyanese Creole, African languages, Akawaio, Macushi, Waiwai, Arawakan, Patamona, Warrau, Carib, Wapishana, Arekuna, Portuguese, Spanish, French
Monarch|

• 1812–1820

| George III

• 1820–1830

| George IV

• 1830–1831

| William IV
Lieutenant Governor|

• 1814–1824

| John Murray

• 1824–1831

| Sir Benjamin d'Urban
History|

• Established

| 1812

• Disestablished

| 1831
Currency| British variety of the Dutch guilder

Preceded by | Succeeded by

|

|  | Essequibo (colony)

|

| Demerara
| British Guiana |

|

The Colony of Demerara-Essequibo was created on 28 April 1812,[1] when the British combined the colonies of Demerara and Essequibo into the colony of Demerara-Essequibo.[2] They were officially ceded to Britain on 13 August 1814. On 20 November 1815, the agreement was ratified by the Netherlands.[3] On 21 July 1831, Demerara-Esequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana.[4]

## Overview

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In 1745, Demerara was created as a separate Dutch colony out of a part of Essequibo.[5] Demerara quickly became more successful than Essequibo.[6] The rivalry between the colonies[7] resulted in the creation of a combined Court of Policy in Fort Zeelandia in 1783, and both colonies were governed by the same governor; however, there were still two Courts of Justice, one for Demerara and one for Essequibo.[8] On 28 April 1812, the two colonies were officially combined,[1] however 1815 is used as end date, because the ratification eliminated the last legal obstacles.[3]

On 18 August 1823, there was a slave rebellion involving more than 10,000 slaves, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of slaves.[9]

On 21 July 1831, Demerara-Esequibo united with Berbice as British Guiana.[4]

## Currency

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The colony continued to use Dutch currency throughout British control, with issued coins ranging from 3 bits up to 3 guilder. Coins bearing the colony's name were minted from 1809 to 1835. The Dutch currency was demonetised after unification and in 1839 was replaced with the British Guiana dollar.[10]

## Administrators

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### Lieutenant Governors

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* John Murray (1814-1824)
* Sir Benjamin d'Urban (1824-1831)

## See also

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* Demerara rebellion of 1823

## References

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1. ^ a b Netscher 1888, p. 290.
2. ^ Schomburgk 1840, p. 86.
3. ^ a b "Berbice". British Empire. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
4. ^ a b "37. The Beginning of British Guiana". Guyana.org. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
5. ^ Hartsinck 1770, pp. 267–268.
6. ^ Netscher 1888, p. 144.
7. ^ Netscher 1888, p. 143.
8. ^ "FROM DUTCH TO BRITISH HANDS (1783-1803)". Guyana.org. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
9. ^ McGowan, Winston (2000). "The distinctive features of the 1823 Demerara slave rebellion". Starbroeck News. Retrieved 2017-08-15.
10. ^ "Coin - 2 Guilders, Essequibo & Demerary, 1816". Museums Victoria. Retrieved 11 August 2020.

## Bibliography

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* Hartsinck, J.J. (1770), Beschryving van Guiana, of de wilde kust in Zuid-America, Amsterdam: Gerrit Tielenburg
* Netscher, Pieter Marinus (1888). Geschiedenis van de koloniën Essequebo, Demerary en Berbice, van de vestiging der Nederlanders aldaar tot op onzen tijd (in Dutch). The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff.
* Schomburgk, Sir Robert H. (1840). A Description of British Guiana, Geographical and Statistical: Exhibiting Its Resources and Capabilities. London: Simpkin, Marshall and Co. ISBN 978-0714619491.

6°48′44″N 58°10′12″W﻿ / ﻿6.8121°N 58.1701°W﻿ / 6.8121; -58.1701