Goldie, George Taubman, Sir, 1846-1925

George Dashwood Taubman Goldie was born on the Isle of Man in 1846. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, obtaining a commission in the Royal Engineers in 1865, which he resigned two years later. In 1877, he entered the Niger River Trade and two years later formed the United African Company, which soon dominated trade on the lower river. Goldie later launched the National African Company. In 1886, this was renamed the Royal Niger Company Chartered & Limited and given political and economic control over Nigeria under royal charter. Goldie successfully repelled French and German attempts to establish posts in Nigeria and extended British control over the Niger River. He was knighted in 1887 and, in 1905, was elected president of the Royal Geographical Society. He died in London in 1925.

From the guide to the Sir George Goldie collection, 1901-1907, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)