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

[edit]

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