Kenneth Macaulay (colonialist)

Kenneth Macaulay (1792-1829) was a merchant and colonial official in Sierra Leone during the early nineteenth century. Macaulay served as Acting-Governor of Sierra Leone and was appointed as a member of His Majesty's Colonial Council. He was a second cousin of Zachary Macaulay, the abolitionist and member of the Clapham Sect.

Kenneth Macaulay was born to Aulay Macaulay and Rachel Macaulay, née Rome, and was a member of the Macaulay family of Lewis. Kenneth Macaulay was baptised at Crosby Upon Eden, Cumberland, England on 5 September, 1792.

Kenneth Macaulay was a second cousin of Zachary Macaulay, a former Governor of Sierra Leone, who had been appointed by the Sierra Leone Company to govern during the pre-Crown colony era. Kenneth Macaulay arrived in the colony in 1808 at the age of sixteen years old to take up the position of government writer. Several Liberated Africans adopted the surname 'Macaulay' or 'Macauley' after Kenneth, who was in charge of distributing provisions to the Liberated African Department.

Macaulay was appointed as a managing agent of Macaulay and Babington, the largest European mercantile firm in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Kenneth Macaulay served in several positions of influence in the Colony of Sierra Leone during the early nineteenth century. He was appointed as a Member of the Colonial Council of Sierra Leone, and was hence styled as 'Honourable Macaulay'. Macaulay was also appointed as Acting-Governor of Sierra Leone. He was a member of the jury during the trial of Samuel Samo, the first court case brought under the British Slave Trade Felony Act 1811. He was drawn into the controversy concerning his cousin Zachary when Robert Thorpe, the Chief Justice in the colony criticised Macauley's poor accountancy standards, and Macauley was removed from his position in 1815. Although unversed in the law, Macaulay was appointed as Acting Chief Justice of Sierra Leone on several occasions.

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