Reference John Dunn by Susan Nind-Barrett

With reference to the post in the Officers Zulu War 1879 I must agree. I have read some articles on John Dunn but none as informative as this. The sketch of John Dunn (Simply Brilliant)
Pete. Invite her to join the forum. She’s the kind of person we need on here.

The end of the Zulu War A letter from Captain Jones. ( At least Dunn obatined one good idea from Cetywayo.)

On Monday 1st September, 1879, Wolseley announced his plans for the fate of Zululand. The Kingdom was divided into thirteen separate districts, each presided over by its own chief.

'John Dunn rules over one and I am highly amused at his first act of assuming power viz: an order that no missionaries will be allowed on his territory. This is out Cetywayoing Cetywayo. I think he is right if he has the power to carry the order thro; but there will be such a howl from Exeter Hall & the large sanctified element of England and the colonies...'.


Captain WP Jones, letter to Mr Jackson, 21st Sept
Source: Royal Engineers Museum

Very interesting infoe: about Dunn.

How did John Dunn become friends with Cetshwayo kaMpande. And why did Dunn turn his back on Cetshwayo kaMpande in favor of the British. What could the British give Dunn that Cetshwayo couldn’t?

I have just read though Susan Nind-Barrett (A POWER BEHIND THE ZULU THRONE) In the British officers 1879 Zulu War Section of the forum.
It just about tells you everything; one needs to know about John Dunn. Fascinating!!!

hi oldh2.
This from "WHO"S WHO IN THE ZULU WAR VOL 2. by GREAVES and KNIGHT.

After cetswayo had defeated mbuyazi (whom dunn fought with) to see who would be the heir to zululand when mpande died, DUNN realised cetswayo"s forces had taken the white traders cattle which had been herded near the river, as there was several thousand it was a lot of money, the traders offered a 250 pound reward to get them back, DUNN accepted, he sought an audience with king mpande who was deeply moved on the death of mbuyazi and so many of his people. He said cetswayos people had the cattle and he couldnt do anything about it. DUNN decided to seek an audience with cetswayo, which he did, cetswayo not wishing to offend the natal authorities gave him a 1000 head, DUNN also recieved the reward. Due to DUNN'S courage, a royal messenger arrived from the king, making him an offer to move to zland and become his adviser on white affairs. CETSWAYO had realised the extent of european penetration into zland, and realised they had become important in the countries economy. DUNN was fluent in zulu , and took up zulu wives, much to his wife"s ( catherine pierce) outrage. DUNN also urged cetswayo in 77-78 to meet british demands where possible.In the run up to the war, dunn was still supplying guns to the zulus, with the british ultimatum of the 11th dec, dunns position became untenable as some zulu chiefs began to regard him with suspicion, so he had no choice and he crossed back into natal late 78. He had lived in zland for 20 yrs. He brought with some 2,000 people and 3,000 cattle, the authorities made land available to him south of the TUGELA as a temporary settlement, cattle promised by chelmfored failed to materialize which didnt restore dunns faith in colonial morality. dunn managed to stay out of the first phase of the war,but became under increasing pressure from chelmsford because of his knowledge of the coastal sector, which the british must pass to free up etshowe. Dunn had many zulu friends in this area as this was dunns old chiefdon, chelmsford requested dunn to join him as adviser on the march to relieve etshowe.." I began to think earnestly of the situation, i could see that i could be of service in pointing out the means of averting another disaster, and , besides, i knew that in the fighting between the boers and the english at the bay(DURBAN) my father had suffered by remaining neutral, so i made up my mind to go with chelmsford to the relief of the etshowe garrison"..He knew the zulu would see this as an act of betrayal, but also knew he had to stick with the side he thought would be the victors, in so, the only hope of him regaining any form of his former authority. After the relief and withdrawl of etshowe, a panic broke out in the british camp shots were fired killing 3 of dunns men on picquet duty.
On passing his deserted homesteads he found the zulus had ransacked them and put them to the torch. After the war DUNN was given his old land back with more thrown in, to essentialy create a buffer between zland and natal , HLUBI"S land also consisted as part of the buffer, because of his allegiance with the british.....

as a side note , DUNN'S father, ROBERT was killed when he was trampled by an elephant in 1847 at the age of 52, JOHN was just 14.

I may need to get his book , it would be a good read.

cheers 90th.

Did You Know ?

Dunn fathered 131 children by 65 wives, though his will records only 49 wives and 117 offspring. Catherine retained the title of "Great Wife", giving her the privilege of being the only wife allowed to enter his presence unannounced. WOW!!!

Old H. I have made bold the answer to you question. He had no choice. Read the artical by Peter Quantrill. One of the best AZW Authors along with Ron. Lock.

John Dunn
By Peter Quantrill

Racial interaction over more than four centuries conjures up a veritable kaleidoscope of images to millions of South Africans and people all over the world. One of the most fascinating centres around the legendary John Dunn, the “ white chief of Zululand.” Dunn, son of an immigrant Scotsman, rose to become a confidant of the powerful king of the Zulu, King Cetshwayo kaMpande and married forty-eight of the King’s subjects after taking a young 15 year-old daughter of a Durban businessman as his first bride.

John Robert Dunn, described as entrepreneur, politician, arms dealer, trader and hunter, whose loyalties were said to lie where self-interest and gain prevailed, was arguably a central and controversial figure in nineteenth century Zulu history. What is sad is that there are so few South Africans who know much about the life and times of this remarkable man.

To this day, his legacy lives on surrounded, as in his lifetime, by controversy. His progeny of well over one hundred and twenty, today many thousands, are involved in bitterly contested land claims in areas that once came under his direct control and referred to by him as “Dunnsland.”

Who then was this “White Chief,” hated and reviled by many including the liberal Bishop of Colenso of Zululand, yet loved and adored by his followers and who, in significant ways, influenced the history of Zululand in the 19th century.

Dunn was born in Port Natal in 1834 and was from an early age exposed to local culture and language. His given Zulu name was “Jantoni.” Bright, intelligent, physically strong and quick on the uptake, Dunn had little formal education. His youth was spent in the saddle learning to shoot and hunt This not only gave him the opportunity to hone his language skills but also to observe and accept Zulu customs and social behaviour.

Dunn was devastated by witnessing the death of his father, killed by an elephant on a hunting expedition in the Natal interior. He was but in his teens. A year or two later he commenced his long association with the Zulu nation by crossing the Thukela River accompanied by Catherine Pierce, his fifteen year old bride, whose father was English and mother of Cape Malaya origin. Here, for two to three years, he lived amongst the Zulu as one of them, hunting and trading for a living. He in all probability spoke only Zulu and lived a nomadic life, forsaking both his European upbringing and clothes.

Dunn then, by accident, met Captain Joshua Walmesley, a retired British army officer and acting Natal Border Agent. Walmesley was on a hunting expedition at the time, and had camped on the banks of the Matikulu River. There he met and persuaded Dunn to return to his home at Nonoti, on the south bank of the Thukela, to live with him, educate him and learn the European way of life. There emerged a remarkable combination of a man who could pass for a Zulu or be entirely at ease in a European environment such as the Durban Club.

During the 1856 civil war in Zululand between King Mpande’s two sons, Cetshwayo and Mbuyazi, Dunn became involved and sided unwisely with the latter who was soundly beaten at the bloody battle of Ndondakusuka. Cetshwayo forgave Dunn for his perceived treachery, elevating him to a position of both power and wealth through direct land grants. Dunn married forty-eight Zulu women, always paying the going rate for a dowry in accordance with Zulu custom.

Cetshwayo is recorded as saying, “ I loved this white man as a brother, and made him one of my Indunas, giving him land and wives, daughters of my chiefs.”

Dunn established three main residences in Zululand, namely at Mangethe, eMoyeni and Qwayinduku. He owned large tracts of land from the Thukela River to the Mhlathuze River, controlled some six thousand subjects and accumulated thousands of heads of cattle. He also supplied the Zulu nation with no less than fifteen thousand weapons of all description, legally provided by shipping consignments to Lourenco Marques and thence into Zululand.

Quote :

At the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879, Dunn faced an acute dilemma. He expressed the wish to remain neutral, but neutrality was impossible as the British made clear to him that unless he sided with them, he would be stripped of all land, wealth and position on the completion of the proposed invasion and conquest of Zululand. A major crisis in his life approached and he was left with little choice but to side with the British.

He moved his wives, children, followers and cattle to the south bank of the Thukela River, thus arguably betraying Cetshwayo for a second time. Tragically his recorded history of his interaction with the Zulu nation compiled over many years was lost forever when one of his homesteads, Ungoye, where his records were stored, was torched at the outbreak of the war.

Dunn’s Scouts, as they were known, were recruited, armed and trained by Dunn, and fought on the side of the British during the Second Invasion of Zululand, taking part in the battle of Gingindlovu. Here, ironically, Dunn fought against a figure he knew well and had taught to ride and shoot, namely Prince Dabulamanzi kaMpande. Dunn went on to be appointed Lord Chelmsford’s intelligence and political advisor on all matters Zulu during the war.

On the cessation of hostilities, Zululand was divided into thirteen Kingdoms with Dunn being given control of the largest. In 1886, he wrote his autobiography, titled “John Dunn, Cetshwayo and the Three Generals,” in which he gave his view of the war. The three generals were Sir Garnet Wolsley, Lord Chelmsford and Hope Crealock. Dunn pulled few punches in voicing both his opinion and criticism of their conduct.

His eyesight failed in 1894 and, after a brief illness, died on 5 August 1895, aged sixty-five, of dropsy and heart disease at his eMoyeni home, near Gingindlovu.

Today, It is a source of great pride to belong to the thriving “ Dunns Descendants Association” and a visit to his well-kept grave, lovingly attended, reflects the high esteem in which this extraordinary “white Zulu” is held.


Peter Quantrill.
( Co-author with Ron Lock of Zulu Victory, Zulu Vanquished, The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 Through the Eyes of The Illustrated London News and the recently published re-print of John Dunn, Cetywayo and the Three Generals.)

Old John Dunn, certainly had a good life. (Active anyway) By the way who gave Dunn the Ultimatum, another request that the british knew would go their way.

Little-Hand. I believe the request came from Lord Chelmsford himself. But I wouldn’t say he never had a choice. He still could have remained neural.

90th Quotes.

Quote :

Dunn was still supplying guns to the zulus

90th would these have been the Brown-Bess Rifles or the more modern type.

Just out of curiosity does anyone have a photo of John Dunn’s Wife (Catherine)?

hi CTSG.
If you read my earlier post concerning DUNN, you will see why he THOUGHT had no choice but to side with the british, in regard to your other question about the firearms he was selling or trading throughout the zulu nation, there was never any mention of him giving them modern weapons, i think J.D. was a smooth operator, and was most likely dealing in old weapons and making plenty out of it !!!!.

CHEERS 90TH.

Hi 24th
I agree, i would certainly like to see a picture of MRS. DUNN !!.

cheers 90th.

24th Came across this on the web. But I’m not sure if it is Dunn’s Wife. The writing is too small to read. But i think its showing, his wife, himself in younger years and then older years if that makes sense. Someone might have a clearer image.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Hi oldh2.

Are you sure the person on the right is not PRINCE CHARLES !!!!!!, in his younger days, uncanny likeness for mine !!.

cheers 90th

He does abit. Maybe theres a blood line. With the amount of off spring Dunn produced who knows !!!

Can anyone confirm if that is John Dunn's wife that Old H. Posted.

Ballard's biography of Dunn is the definitive work but extremely hard to get hold of.

The young man is his son.

Dunn was a young man of 20 in the 1830's long before the camera was invented.

DTSG
Good to see you again. Thanks for your replies. Maybe a sketch of her might exist.

DTSG Say's

Quote :

Dunn was a young man of 20 in the 1830's long before the camera was invented.

When in fact

1837
Louis Daguerre's first daguerreotype - the first image that was fixed and did not fade and needed less than thirty minutes of light exposure.

1840
First American patent issued in photography to Alexander Wolcott for his camera.

1841
William Henry Talbot patents the Calotype process - the first negative-positive process making possible the first multiple copies.

1843
First advertisement with a photograph made in Philadelphia.

1859
Panoramic camera patented - the Sutton.

1861
Oliver Wendell Holmes invents stereoscope viewer.

1865
Photographs and photographic negatives are added to protected works under copyright.

1871
Richard Leach Maddox invented the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process - negatives no longer had to be developed immediately.

1880
Eastman Dry Plate Company founded.

Came Across this: so there could be a photo of Dunn's wife somewhere.


Original Photographs
Photographs of Napoleon's Veterans
1809-1815.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

littlehand wrote:

DTSG Say's

Quote :

Dunn was a young man of 20 in the 1830's long before the camera was invented.

When in fact

1837
Louis Daguerre's first daguerreotype - the first image that was fixed and did not fade and needed less than thirty minutes of light exposure.

1840
First American patent issued in photography to Alexander Wolcott for his camera.

1841
William Henry Talbot patents the Calotype process - the first negative-positive process making possible the first multiple copies.

1843
First advertisement with a photograph made in Philadelphia.

1859
Panoramic camera patented - the Sutton.

1861
Oliver Wendell Holmes invents stereoscope viewer.

1865
Photographs and photographic negatives are added to protected works under copyright.

1871
Richard Leach Maddox invented the gelatin dry plate silver bromide process - negatives no longer had to be developed immediately.

1880
Eastman Dry Plate Company founded.

Touche
However Dunn lived in the rough and ready environment of the fledgling colony of Natal so it is unliely that any early photogrpahs of him exist.

My apologies DTSG if you think I was being touchy, that wasn’t my intention. And my apologies again I thought it was Dunn's Wife we were looking for not Dunn.(Catherine)?

But here's is a rare photograph of one of Dunn's 48 Zulu wives.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

So I guest there were photo's being taken in an environment of the fledgling colony of Natal

Littlehand. I dont suppose this wife of John Dunn had a name with this photo.

I did not mean to come across as touchy.
Sorry about that.
I am back home and have my precious copy of Ballard's John Dunn
The young man is Robert Newton Dunn the eldest son of John and Catherine Dunn.
The lady appears to be Catherine Pearce Dunn herself.
I will scan in the photos from Ballard's book and post them tomorrow when I am back at work.

Hi DTSG.
I think we just got our wires crossed. I'm looking forward to your post tomorrow:

Pete. I couldn't see a name with the photo.

No sign of DTSC I see.

I don't think that this turned out how I intended.
I selected the "Host an image" feature.
Why is it not displayed?
Mayeb I could email the images to a moderator.

DTSG I have sent you a P/M

Photo's sent by CTSG. Who says the The lady appears to be Catherine Pearce Dunn herself

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Thank you kindly for posting those images.
They are from Ballard's" John Dun The White Chief of Zululand" n and the caption, which I think is legible says it is Catherine.

Excellent work DTSG. Nice photo's Who is the old man with the shield (middle photo) The print just a bit to small. Even with me maginfying glass.

Lokotwayo kaMcambi Dunn's senior induna. Courtesy of Killie Campbell Africana Library UKZN The other s are Melmoth Osborne British Resident in Zululand , Bishop Colenso and John Dunn and his indunas 1882.

Came across this odd picture of John Dunn. As portrayed by the British back in England.

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Source : schroderartmemen

With reference to that odd picture I posted yesterday (Above) of John Dunn.Does anyone know what the opinion of John Dunn was back in England in 1879?

And did John Dunn like the British or did he just go along for the ride to see what he could get out of them after the war.

Hi CTSG.


The Zulu King and the British rewarded Dunn in many way. In reality John Dunn stood to win in all aspects. The British opinion back home did not really come in to it. And if it did I doubt very much if Dunn would have been bothered. He did what was right for him, and at the end of the day in comes down to looking after number one. John Dunn played and important part in the shaping of Africa especially within the Sugar industry. Here is an extract from

John Dunn of Zululand: The Man, The Legacy
By Charles Ballard.

These extracts show how Dunn was rewarded.

“THE King Cetshwayo saw the end of a quest for a "white chief" to serve as his adviser when dealing with the Natal government. The Zulu heir apparent felt an acute political need for white assistant and Dunn possessed qualities that Cetshwayo found attractive.

Cetshwayo's attachment to Dunn came to be based on more than mere expedience and the two became close friends and confidants. Dunn readily accepted Cetshwayo's invitation to settle permanently in Zululand. Indeed, Cetshwayo had offered Dunn an ideal situation. He gave Dunn occupational rights to lands along the southern Zululand coast from Ngoya in the north to the Lower Tugela in the South. Status in the Zulu kingdom was measured by the number of wives and cattle in an individual's possession”

“Dunn served Lord Chelmsford well and was named Military Intelligence Officer and awarded the local rank of commandant . After the war Dunn was made of the thirteen chiefs as a result of the Ulundi Treaty of 1 September 1879. Not only was he made a chief but he received the largest and wealthiest of the thirteen chiefdoms. Dunn controlled nearly one fifth of Zululand and controlled a number of lucrative trade monopolies.”

Cetshwayo showed his friendship to Dunn even when the chips were down.

John Dunn was an Englishman, resident in Zululand, where he had lived for many years and adopted many Zulu customs. He amassed a considerable property,
and had an extensive following. He invariably received the greatest kindness and consideration from the Zulu king, and was frequently employed by him in various
communications with the English Government. When the danger of war between English and Zulus appeared imminent, John Dunn appealed to the English for protection for himself, his property, and people, who were ready, he said, to fight on the English side.

At the same time Cetshwayo sent him a message to the effect that he saw the English were going to attack him, and therefore Dunn had better leave his country, with his people and cattle, and go to a place of safety. This John Dunn did, crossing the Tugela about the 3rd of January, and settling near Fort Pearson.


From: HISTORY OF THE ZULU WAR AND ITS ORIGIN.

old historian2 wrote:

24th Came across this on the web. But I’m not sure if it is Dunn’s Wife. The writing is too small to read. But i think its showing, his wife, himself in younger years and then older years if that makes sense. Someone might have a clearer image.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The photo is of Ctaherine. You can enlarge it on my website here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Thanks Susan.

Dave wrote:

Thanks Susan.

You're welcome. Have you visited the Dunn's family site? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

I have. Excellent website. Hopefully Admin will include your site on our web links.

Just some feedback, I saw the comments t=on the photo and thought I would clarify this. In the middle is John Dunn, on the right is his first wife Catherine Pearce and on the right is their first Robert Dunn.

Lawrence

Hi Dunnsland .
Welcome aboard , as I said previously when this picture emerged , Robert Dunn could pass as Prince Charles and now
as then , no disrespect meant to either man . .
cheers 90th.

Uncanny hey,

The same thought crossed my mind when I first saw the picture.

Have you had a look through some of the documents taht I have on my site regarding John Dunn. I would appreciate any more data that might be floating around about the man.

Lawrence

Quote :

Have you had a look through some of the documents taht I have on my site regarding John Dunn.

Hi Lawrence. Welcome to the forum. Do we have a link to your site or is it the same as Susan's

I am the owner of the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] web site.

I developed the site to try to gather all the data that I could find on the Dunn family.

Lawrence

That is some site. loads for infoe: thanks for posting link.
It may pay for us to post any information we find on John Dunn and you can use it or delete it. I'm sure Littlehand will come up with something. Once again thanks for link.