James Dawson
TraderJames Dawson trained in law at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, in 1876 travelled to South Africa…
Trader
James Dawson trained in law at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, in 1876 travelled to South Africa joining his brother in Bechuanaland (mordern day Botswana) to trade.
In addition Dawson also undertook secretarial work for Chief Khama, the chief of the Batswana.
In 1884 he travelled to Bulawayo,where he traded and farmed until 1905. He became a law firm partner of J. Fairbairn and in 1890 he travelled to Matebeleland to obtain mining claims from King Lobengula.
He was part of King Lobengula’s envoys who carried a written message to the High Commissioner in South Africa in a bid to avert war. In February 1894 James Dawson returned to Bulawayo where he asked to follow up on King Lobengula.
He volunteered to find out what had happened to the King and also to the Allan Wilson patrol . He discovered the bodies in Matebeleland north and buried the remains under a tree at the site , and he inscribed on the tree” to brave men ”. He took an active part in the Matebele Rebellion in 1896.
He left Rhodesia in 1905 and later died on the 7th of October 1921.
