Andrew Barkworth Wright

Sir Andrew Barkworth Wright KCMG CBE MC with Bar was a British colonial administrator and army officer. He served as the Governor of British Cyprus from 1949 to 1954 and as Governor of the Gambia from 1947 to 1949.

Early life and education

Wright was born in Mawgan-in-Meneage, Cornwall, the son of an Anglican clergyman. His heritage has been traced back to John I'Anson, who migrated from Belgium to Cumbria. He was educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College from 1910 to 1914 and later at Jesus College, Cambridge. He served as an officer in the Suffolk Regiment during World War I and won the Military Cross in 1917.

Wright joined the civil service in British Cyprus in 1922 and, by 1937, had become its Colonial Secretary. He re-enlisted in the army during World War II but left in 1943 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to become Colonial Secretary of Trinidad. In January 1947, he was appointed Governor of the Gambia, and in 1948, he was knighted. During his tenure as Governor, the Colonial Development Corporation implemented the failed Yundum egg scheme and the marginal experimental rice farm at Wallikunda.
A lack of funds stifled Wright's efforts to improve the social and economic situations. However, during his time, the first direct election to the Legislative Council was organised in 1947, and Edward Francis Small was elected. He also adopted a policy of Africanization in the civil service and sought to reduce European privilege, for instance, by opening up the 'European block' at the Royal Victoria Hospital. In May 1949, it was announced that Wright would be transferred to Cyprus, where there was a deteriorating political situation. Due to his popularity in the Gambia, this sparked large-scale protests in Bathurst, led by Small and J. C. Faye.
During his time as Governor of British Cyprus, 96% of Greek Cypriots voted for a union with Greece in 1950. Wright retired from colonial service in 1953. He died in Lewknor, Oxfordshire, on 24 March 1971.