HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The British Cemetery of Montevideo () is one of the oldest operating cemeteries in
Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...
.


History

This land, now on Central Avenue, was known as the ''Cementerio de los Ingleses'' as during the failed
British invasions of the River Plate The British invasions of the River Plate were two unsuccessful British attempts to seize control of the Spanish colony of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, located around the Río de la Plata in South America – in present-day Argenti ...
a battle took place there on 20 January 1807, known as the
Battle of Cardal The Battle of Cardal (also known as Battle of Cordón), on 20 January 1807, was the main conflict between the Spanish defense forces of Montevideo, Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South Ameri ...
, against forces of Vazquez Feijoo and where several British soldiers were killed. Their comrades buried their bodies on the land on which they had fallen. Shortly afterwards on 3 February, the Battle of Montevideo and for one month the city was occupied by the British till they were defeated in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
and had to definitively withdraw from the
Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata The Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata or Viceroyalty of Buenos Aires ( or Virreinato de Buenos Aires or ) meaning "River of the Silver", also called the "Viceroyalty of River Plate" in some scholarly writings, in southern South America, was ...
. On 24 October 1818 a Portuguese resident of the Cordon area of Montevideo, Padre don Manuel Salinas took possession of a piece of "unoccupied" land situated in the centre of the city on the site of the present "Intendencia", that was donated to him, during the occupation of Montevideo by the Portuguese Government, by the then Governor Lecor, Viscount of Laguna. On 30 September 1825 Padre Salinas sold and transferred the land to a British resident, John Hall, for the sum of $400. On 14 April 1828 the British Consul in Montevideo, Mr Thomas Hood bought the land from John Hall in the name of the British government, and it is from this date that the British Cemetery became more formally recognised. This cemetery initially was a
Protestant Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
cemetery according to the first entrance books, that being the main reason why so many Germans were buried in the original cemetery. In 1835 a German citizen by the name of Enrique Jakobsen died in San Jose, and was denied burial there on account of being a
freemason Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
and a
heretic Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. Heresy in Christianity, Judai ...
. His body was brought to Montevideo, and was also initially denied burial for the same reason. At that time all cemeteries were under the sole management and control of the
Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
. After his burial in the Cementerio Central which had been inaugurated earlier the same year the First Bishop of Montevideo,
Jacinto Vera Blessed Jacinto Vera Durán (Atlantic Ocean, 3 July 1813 – Pan de Azúcar, Uruguay, 6 May 1881) was a Uruguayan Roman Catholic prelate who served as the first bishop of Montevideo. He was an active minister in Uruguay, although his efforts t ...
declared that no other burial could take place in that Cemetery until the body was removed. Because of this the Government stepped in, and on 10 October 1835 passed a decree whereby all cemeteries in this country would come under the direct influence of the Jefatura de Policia. Subsequent to this decree, years later, by Government decree of 28 June 1858 the administration of all cemeteries of this country was conferred on the Juntas Economicas Administrativas who depended directly from the Municipios. On 3 October 1837 the title deeds were issued to Mr. Hood with the provision that the land should be used exclusively for the burial of British subjects. Within a context of religious intolerance the Uruguayan Government requested that Protestants of other nationalities should also be buried there, and as can be seen from the record books this has always been respected. The British Cemetery has no restrictions regarding religion or nationality. On 1 January 1879 a decree was passed prohibiting burials within the Cemetery, with a few exceptions due to an outbreak of Yellow Fever. On 1 October 1884 the President of the Republic, General
Máximo Santos Máximo Benito Santos Barbosa (15 April 1847 – 19 May 1889) was a Uruguayan political and military figure who was President of Uruguay from 1882 to 1886. He was member of the Colorado Party. He governed as an authoritarian in an alliance with ...
, had a decree passed to finally close the Old Cemetery and the Government made a
Compulsory Purchase Compulsion, Compulsive, Compelling, or Compulsory may refer to: Psychology * Compulsive behavior, a psychological condition in which a person does a behavior compulsively, having an overwhelming feeling that they must do so. * Obsessive–compu ...
of the land. Anticipating this possibility, in August 1878 a piece of land was bought next to the
Buceo Cemetery Cementerio del Buceo is a cemetery in Montevideo, Uruguay. It was established in 1872. It is located in the ''barrio'' of Buceo, near the shores of the Río de la Plata. Nearby is the British Cemetery. Notable burials * Rafael Barradas (1890� ...
(which had been inaugurated on 20 March 1872) for the purpose of opening a Cemetery in this new location. In 1885 the gardens and paths were designed and constructed inside the walls of the New Cemetery, a house for the caretaker, offices, stables, a shed for the workers, and the chapel. Any improvements or maintenance that has been done to these installations over the years has respected the original designs, and today all of these buildings still stand as fine examples of late 19th century architecture. On 14 October a dedication ceremony was carried out in the newly constructed Chapel by the Right Reverend Waite Hockin Stirling who was the Lord Bishop of the
Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; ), commonly referred to as The Falklands, is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and from Cape Dub ...
. In 1888 the railings and a water well were constructed. The first Burial in the New British Cemetery was that of a German citizen by the name of Nicolas Laukant on 9 April 1885. Cristian Schenzer, who was the caretaker of the Cemetery at the time, was contracted to carry out the onerous task of transferring the remains of bodies interred in the old cemetery and their corresponding monuments to the new site. This was done between 13 October 1887 and 4 February 1888. In the year 1897 the British Community decided to build a
community hall A community centre, community center, or community hall is a public location where members of a community gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may be open for the whole community or for a sp ...
and as a way of commemorating her
Diamond Jubilee A diamond jubilee celebrates the 60th anniversary of a significant event related to a person (e.g. accession to the throne or wedding, among others) or the 60th anniversary of an institution's founding. The term is also used for 75th annivers ...
it was named after
Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
. The Victoria Hall Society was formed, and after obtaining a loan from the British Cemetery Society, a very suitable piece of land in calle Rio Negro was purchased, where the building was finally erected. The drive for funds for its construction was very small, and payments had to be made during the construction of the building, so that continuous loans had to be granted by the Cemetery Society, until such time as the building was finished. The so-called Victoria Hall Society could not even meet the payment of interest on the total loan, so finally an agreement was reached whereby the property was transferred to the British Cemetery Society. In this building, with a private entrance, the Acacia Lodge Temple was constructed, and the Acacia Lodge obtained a loan from the British Cemetery Society to import from the United Kingdom the furniture required for the
Masonic Temple A Masonic Temple or Masonic Hall is, within Freemasonry, the room or edifice where a Masonic Lodge meets. Masonic Temple may also refer to an abstract spiritual goal and the conceptual ritualistic space of a meeting. Development and history I ...
. When all the public utility companies, such as railways, waterworks, tramways etc. passed into the hands of the Government, the general idea was that there would no longer be any British Community. No use was made of the Victoria Hall; it was partly kept by the rent obtained from leasing it for weekend dances and theatre. Expenses, management, repairs, taxes etc. had to be paid by the British Cemetery Society with yearly losses, and as finally the community was no longer using the hall, decision was taken to sell it. Upon the death of Queen Victoria, on 22 January 1901, the British Community in Uruguay decided to raise funds to build a monument in her honour. F. Pozer & Company constructed an
obelisk An obelisk (; , diminutive of (') ' spit, nail, pointed pillar') is a tall, slender, tapered monument with four sides and a pyramidal or pyramidion top. Originally constructed by Ancient Egyptians and called ''tekhenu'', the Greeks used th ...
with grey granite from the hills near Minas, 8 metres high, with the inscription "Victoria, Queen and Mother of her People". The monument was inaugurated at 3pm on Sunday 10 August 1902. The ceremony was led by the Walter Baring – British Minister & Consul General at Montevideo, Reverend Basil Cobbett and the President of the British Society W. Galway accompanied by 6 sailors from HMS Basilisk. The monument still stands in its original position within the entrance to the Cemetery. At a meeting of the British Cemeteries Society held on 13 February 1908, Mr. J.J. Hore, then Honorary Treasurer of the Society, brought forward a scheme for the establishing of a British School in Montevideo, for those children whose parents could not afford to send them for their education abroad. The proposal was eventually carried through, and the then Rector of the Anglican Church, Rev. Alpass, who had educational experience, was instructed that whilst in England he should obtain the services of a headmaster and teacher for the projected school. He was also instructed to purchase the required furniture and books for the school. Apart from paying Assisted Education for various children once the School was installed in calle Salsipuedes (now Blanes), the British Cemetery Society made the School a grant of $5,000 for a period of three years, and that it should be continued until such time that the school could pay its own way. When the School moved from calle Blanes to 18 de Julio continued assistance was granted. From there the British School decided to build their own property, and in this respect purchased land in
Pocitos :''Pocitos is also the colloquial name for the city of Salvador Mazza, Salta, Salvador Mazza, Salta Province, Argentina'' Pocitos is an upscale seaside Barrios of Montevideo, ''barrio'' of Montevideo, Uruguay. It borders Buceo to the east, Parque B ...
, where the School was built. Edward, the Prince of Wales laid the Foundation Stone in 1925. The Cemetery Society guaranteed and paid all the mortgage interest on the property built in Jose B. Lamas, on the condition that on the Board of the British Schools Society there should always be two members of the British Cemetery Society until such time as the final payment of the mortgage on the property had been made. During 1910 the British Hospital decided to vacate their old premises on the street
Juan Lindolfo Cuestas Juan Lindolfo de los Reyes Cuestas (6 January 1837 – 21 June 1905) was a Uruguayan politician who served as the 18th President of Uruguay from 1897 until 1899 and for a second term from 1899 to 1903. Background Juan Lindolfo Cuestas was a prom ...
, and build a new hospital in Avenida Aldea (now Avenida Italia), where it stands today, and known as the
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second child ...
Hospital. The total investment for the construction was $60000, and it was made out in debentures. The British Cemetery Society had to guarantee the 6% interest on these debentures. As the British Community could not meet the total $60000, the British Cemetery Society had to absorb one third. Also, some years later, when the extension to the
Edward VII Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 22 January 1901 until Death and state funeral of Edward VII, his death in 1910. The second child ...
Hospital was made, of what were called the new wings, the British Cemetery Society granted a further loan, which covered 40% of this construction at a low interest rate. In the year 1945 when practically all the British public utility works were sold to the Uruguayan Government the then Presidents of the various British Societies together with their committees decided to sell out, as they thought that it could be the end of a British Community in this country. Consequently, the Victoria Hall, the Old English Club and
Montevideo Cricket Club The Montevideo Cricket Club (abbreviated "MVCC") is a Uruguayan sports club based in Montevideo, established in 1861 by English immigrants. * Frederick Crocker (1821–1911). American naval commander and US consul


Personalities


Arts

* Hector Sgarbi (1905–1982). Painter * Carlos Sabat Ercasty (1887–1982). Poet * Armonía Somers (1914–1994). Pseudonym of Uruguayan writer Armonía Liropeya Etchepare Locino *
Carla Witte Carla Witte (20 May 1889 – 8 May 1943) was a German Uruguayan, German-Uruguayan painter, sculptor, and teacher. Biography Carla Witte was born in Leipzig, a German city in Saxony on 20 May 1889, and studied plastic arts in Berlin. In 1927, s ...
(1889–1943). German artist * Miguel Óscar Patrón Marchand (1943–2010). Orchestra conductor


Sports

* Helen Fay Crocker (1914–1983). First non-American golfer to win one of the
LPGA major golf championships Women's golf has a set of major championships, a series of tournaments designated to be of a higher status than other tournaments. Five tournaments are currently designated as 'majors' in women's golf by the LPGA. The LPGA's list of majors has ...
* John Harley (1886–1960). Scottish born footballer who was player and manager of Peñarol Football Club * William Leslie Poole (1866–1931). English teacher at the "English High School" Montevideo. Played football in Albion Football Club, known as the "Father of Uruguayan Football"


Business


=Newspapers

= * William Huskinson Denstone (1867–1925). Owner and editor of '' The Montevideo Times'' * Thomas Havers (1810-1870). Businessman, architect and Director of Public Works in Montevideo The English In South America
Michael George Mulhall, Standard Printing Office, Buenos Aires, and E. Stanford, London, 1878


=Others

= *
Samuel Fisher Lafone Samuel Fisher Lafone (Liverpool, 1805 – Buenos Aires, April 30, 1871) was a British-born Uruguayan businessman. Lafone developed an important economic activity in Montevideo and Argentina. He established a settlement at Hope Place on the sout ...
(1805–1871). English businessman * Thomas Tomkinson (1804–1879). English businessman


Religious

* Archbishop Nicolas Solovey (1877–1953)


Others

* Iwan Lukjanowitsch Solonewitsch (1891–1953). Russian writer, thinker, journalist and social activist


See also

* British Cemetery Montevideo Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen * British Cemetery, Buenos Aires * Early UK ambassadors to Uruguay


Notes

# The history of the Cemetery was taken from notes collected by Sir Robert Jackson, President of the British Cemetery Society during many years. # Use has also been made of an article in "El Plata", newspaper published in Montevideo on 26 February 1934.


References


External links

*
The British Society in Uruguay
*


British Settlers in Argentina and Uruguaystudies in 19th and 20th century emigration
{{DEFAULTSORT:British Cemetery Cemeteries in Montevideo Anglican cemeteries in South America British military memorials and cemeteries 1828 establishments in Uruguay Buceo British diaspora in Uruguay