Agenda|Histories

Governor Kane: a Menorcan in Westminster

Minorca's histories

Minorca was first conquered by the British in 1708. Four years latter, Richard Kane was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Minorca by Queen Anne. He remained in this post until 1736. Probably he has been the governor most loved by the people of Minorca of all who have ruled the island. This is so, regardless of the amount of time passed by and the fact that he represented an invader power.

Besides his military duties, leading the British garrison of Minorca and latter on that of Gibraltar, Kane was especially concerned about the welfare of the local population. His main and most long living achievement was the modern, by the time, road that links Mahon to Ciutadella. Such a road is still known as Es Cami de’n Kane (Kane’s Road). Originally it allowed moving troops from one end to the other of the island. But also it made possible that many farmers could gain access to market in order to sell their produce.

The governor pushed significant improvements in favour of the island economy, by introducing new breeds of cattle as well as new crops. He drained a marsh at the end of Mahon harbour that was the cause of many contagious ailments. It became a fertile irrigated area, known as Es Vergers. Since very recently it has produced most of the fresh vegetables sold in Mahon’s market.

Just beside this drained up marsh, at the right hand side of the road to Fornells, there is a memorial to Governor Kane. The British have also their own memorial in Westminster Abbey. The bust representing him was carved 6 years after Kane’s death. Unfortunately, its author, the famous sculptor Rysbrack, blinded by his artistic enthusiasm, did not pay much attention to depict the actual features of Kane’s face.



» http://www.islahospitalmenorca.org/

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