Stanley David Garrick, Egaibu of Siluko (8 June 1888 – 12 May 1958) was a senior administrator and courtier to Oba

Akenzua II Ọmọ n'Ọba n'Ẹdo Uku Akpọlọkpọlọ, Akenzua II (7 January 1899 – 11 June 1978) was the Oba of Benin (traditional leader of the Edo people, in Nigeria) from 1933 until his death in 1978. Akenzua II was enthroned as Oba of Benin in ...

, the 37th Oba of the Kingdom of Benin, now in southern Nigeria. His father was a Sierra Leone Creole

catechist Catechesis (; from Greek: , "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction") is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the ...

called J. D. Garrick.

Professional life

Garrick was appointed to run Benin's postal service in 1923 after the Southern Nigerian Government had become responsible for managing the protectorate's postal system. He subsequently oversaw the growth of Benin's importance as a postal hub at a time when its

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location made water transport the preferred means of serving a region that lacked adequate roads.

Honour

In recognition of his services to Benin, baronial lands in the district of Siluko were settled on Garrick in 1943 as a personal gift of the Benin monarch, HRH Oba Akenzua II.

Private life

Garrick and his wife, Comfort Ramotu, had three sons and two daughters in a marriage lasting over four decades.

Last years

In later years, Garrick devoted his time to his farms and rubber plantations. However, the loss of his sight towards the end of his life curtailed the enjoyment of his estates. On his death in 1958, the Siluko barony passed to his eldest son and heir, George A. Garrick - better known as the holder of Nigeria's High Jump record between 1938 and 1953.

Descendants

Among Garrick's descendants are several grandchildren who have also dedicated themselves to public service. They include His Lordship Stanley Shenko Alagoa, retired

Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...

of the Nigerian

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and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR); His Excellency Kayode Ralph Garrick, Grand Cross of the

Order of Rio Branco The Order of Rio Branco (''Ordem de Rio Branco'') is an honorific order of Brazil instituted by decree 51.697 of February 5, 1963. It is named in honor of the Brazilian diplomat José Paranhos, Baron of Rio Branco. The President of Brazil serves ...

, former

Ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or sov ...

Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

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; Dr. Chike Gwam, international practitioner of paediatric and internal medicine; and Dr. (Mrs.) Abigail Funlayo Afiesimama (née Alagoa), a linguist and university lecturer.

Memorial

The Garrick Memorial School, a secondary school in

Benin City Benin City is the capital and largest city of Edo State, Edo State, Nigeria. It is the fourth-largest city in Nigeria according to the 2006 census, after Lagos, Kano (city), Kano, and Ibadan, with a population estimate of about 3,500,000 as of ...

, is named in honour of Stanley David Garrick and its ethos is based on his spirit of civic duty.

Sources

* Nigeria Direct * Garrick family * Palace of Benin * National Archives of Nigeria * Garrick Memorial School * ''

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'' newspaper archives *

Nigerian Bar Association The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...

* John Harris Library of the University of Benin {{DEFAULTSORT:Garrick, Stanley 1888 births 1958 deaths Sierra Leone Creole people