William Owen Lanyon 1842-1887
William was the son of Sir Charles Lanyon and Elizabeth Helen Owen. He was born in Belfast in 1842 and was a famous British colonial administrator. He served in the West India Regiment and was secretary to the Governor of Jamaica. He was administrator of the southern African territories in the 1870s. His autocratic outlook and low opinion of the local peoples made him immensely unpopular during his terms of office. He was governor of Griqualand West and described it as the most “hideous and disgusting” place he had ever seen.
He became a Companion of the Order of the Bath and a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. He married Florence Levy but she died in childbirth and the child was stillborn. He died of cancer of the jaw in New York.
Caricature showing the bearded Sidney Godolphin Alexander Shippard (right) and R.W. Murray “Limner” (left) tripping up the Lieutenant Governor of Griqualand West, Major William Owen Lanyon. Image relates to the unsuccessful attempt by Major Lanyon to sue the newspaper editor Murray for libel, and Shippard’s support for the newspaper.
Map of South Africa
The Lanyons 