Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/103

 made a reputation in the commonwealth as a constitutional lawyer.

A full-length panel portrait in oils, by Tom Roberts, an Australian artist, is in the possession of his widow.

 GARRETT, FYDELL EDMUND (1865–1907), publicist, born on 20 July 1865, was fourth son of John Fisher Garrett, rector of Elton, Derbyshire, by his wife, Mary, daughter of Godfrey Gray. He was educated at Rossall school and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in the summer term of 1887 with a third class in classics. At the university he was more distinguished at the Union Debating Society, of which he was president in 1887, than in the schools. But though not taking a high degree, he gave in other ways early evidence of exceptional literary ability. Some of his translations from the classical poets, as well as his original pieces, contained in a small volume of undergraduate verse, 'Rhymes and Renderings,' published at Cambridge in 1887, are remarkable not only for their grace and ease of expression but for a real poetic feeling. On leaving the university Garrett joined the staff of the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' and rapidly made his mark as a journalist by the force of his convictions—he was at this time a very ardent radical—the freshness of his style, and a happy gift of humour. But he had always been delicate, and after two years of work in London his health broke down. The first symptoms of the disease to which he ultimately succumbed, phthisis, became apparent, and he was sent for cure to South Africa. The remedy was for the moment apparently successful, and in any case this visit to South Africa in the winter of 1889–90 led to other consequences most important to his career. South Africa was at that time entering the critical period of her history which terminated in the war of 1899–1902. Garrett, an ardent young man of exceptionally keen intelligence, not lacking in audacity, and of most winning manners and appearance, was quick to seize the salient points in an interesting situation and to make the acquaintance of the leading actors in the drama. He won the confidence of Sir [q. v. Suppl. I], then high commissioner for South Africa, and made great friends with [q. v. Suppl. II], besides establishing more or less intimate relations with the leading Dutch politicians, including [q. v. Suppl. II] and President Kruger. The result was a series of articles in the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' subsequently published as a book, 'In Afrikanderland and the Land of Ophir' (1891, 2 edits.), which is still the best description of South Africa in that momentous phase of its development. The next four years were again devoted, as far as recurrent attacks of ill-health permitted, to journalistic work in London, first for the 'Pall Mall Gazette,' then, from 1893, for the 'Westminster Gazette,' in the opening years of its career, in either case under the editorship of Garrett's friend, (Sir) E. T. Cook. In 1894 he also produced a translation of Ibsen's 'Brand' into English verse in the original metres, which, if not perfect as a translation, for Garrett was not a great Norwegian scholar, is singularly successful in reproducing the spirit and poetry of the original.

In April 1895 Garrett returned to South Africa to become editor of the 'Cape Times,' the leading English newspaper in the sub-continent, and far the most important work of Garrett's life was done during his four and a half years' active tenure of that office (April 1895–August 1899). He was not only editor of the paper but the principal writer in it, and being a man of strong character and convictions, gifted moreover with extra-ordinary quickness of political insight, he on more than one occasion exercised by his trenchant pen a decisive influence on the course of affairs. In the rapid series of stirring events of these four years, the raid, the abortive rebellion in Johannesburg, the struggle between Rhodes and the Bond at the Cape, and between Kruger and the Uitlanders in the Transvaal, the Bloemfontein conference, and the growing tension between Great Britain and the South African republic, Garrett played a leading part. His position in South African politics became one of such importance that he was practically compelled to add to his arduous duties as editor of the 'Cape Times' those of a member of parliament. Returned at the Cape general election of 1898 as member for Victoria East, he immediately took a foremost place in the house of assembly, and in the two heated sessions preceding the war he was perhaps the most eloquent, and he was certainly the most persuasive, speaker on the 'progressive'