SAMUEL JOSIAH SIGISMUND BARLATT

Samuel Josiah Sigismund Barlatt (1867-September 7 or 8, 1940) was Mayor of Freetown from 1918-20, during which time he played a moderating role during various troubles which occurred in the years immediately following World War I.

PHOTO CAPTION: Barlatt, S.J.S. SOURCE: EA Library

He was born in Freetown and was the eldest son of C.J.G. Barlatt, a former mayor of Freetown (1901). Young Barlatt was educated at the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) Grammar School and, later, at Fourah Bay College, then affiliated with the University of Durham, where he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a licentiate in theology.

In 1906 he worked for some time as chief clerk for the Royal Garrison Artillery’s brigade office at Tower Hill, in Freetown, before leaving for Britain to study law. In 1909 he was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in London and received the degree of M.A. from Durham University. He returned home in 1910 to set up a successful law practice.

His proficiency was appreciated by the government, and on several occasions he acted as police magistrate. A brilliant and witty counsel, his erudition was impeccable, and his delivery first class. With such qualities, and his family connections, he was elected Mayor of Freetown in November 1918 remaining in office until 1920 (i.e. for two terms). He did yeoman service as mayor during the troubled years of 1918 and 1919. During the influenza epidemic of 1918, for example, the Mayor could be seen with his sleeves rolled up tending to the sick and the dead.

As Mayor, Barlatt was instrumental in promoting peace in times of trouble, especially during the anti-Syrian riot of 1919. On that occasion, his moderating influence and solicitous help to the Lebanese (mistakenly called Syrians in Sierra Leone) helped to bring peace more quickly and easily at a time when the atmosphere was taut with racial strife between Krios (Creoles) and white officials. Indeed, Barlatt himself suffered insult from a white army officer who assaulted him.

Following the 1919 strike, the colonial administration established the Parodi Commission, with Barlatt as a member, to investigate the event. The commission placed responsibility for the strike on the City Council and imposed on it a fine of £36,000. At Barlatt’s special plea, however, the administration was induced to reduce the amount.

Another labour dispute in which he played a key role was the Elder Dempster Lines’ seamen’s strike of 1920. He persuaded the men to return to work, and in appreciation of his services, Elder Dempster gave him a silver service.

While Barlatt was a man of peace and moderation, he was perhaps too conservative for many of his contemporaries. He hurt his reputation when he argued against the name “Sierra Leone Native Defence Fund.” The fund had been established to give aid and to defend Sierra Leoneans against heavy-handed acts of the government. But according to Barlatt, the word “defence” gave the impression of antagonism to the colonial government, and suggested a conflict of interest between the government and the people.

Nevertheless, he did participate in the activities of the National Congress of British West Africa and often addressed political meetings. Like his contemporaries, he was a serious churchman. He was a member of the Fourah Bay College Council and a prominent member of the Native Pastorate Church. He was also a student of the classics.

Though he was at one time considered for nomination to the Legislative Council, because of his “influence over the uneducated classes,” he never served on it.

AKINTOLA J.G. WYSE