Constructing Ionian identities: the Ionian Islands in British official ...

Chapter 4: Seaton’s reform programme in the Septinsula: 1843-1849
Introduction
After James Stewart-Mackenzie’s brief tenure in the Septinsula between 1841-
1843, the Colonial Office appointed another of Wellington’s generals, Sir John
Colborne, first Baron Seaton, as Lord High Commissioner of the Septinsula. Seaton
instituted a number of fundamental constitutional reforms in the Ionian Islands from
1843-1849, his attempt to “reform not only Ionian politics but also the Ionian
politeia in the broadest sense”. 1
As Calligas has argued, Greek historiography claimed Seaton was initially
unwilling to instigate constitutional concessions and the reform of the Ionian
constitution of 1848 was influenced by the “revolution in Greece” in 1843 and the
1848 revolutions in Europe. 2 Calligas challenged these claims, showing Seaton’s
reform agenda for the Septinsula began in 1843 and “was specifically designed to
withstand such pressures by providing a constitutional form of government that
could be defended by the British and by the Ionian supporters of the Protectorate”. 3
This provided the context for a more liberal policy, led by men such as Stanley and
Grey, who approved Seaton’s colonial policies for the Septinsula.
1 Calligas E. “Lord Seaton’s Reforms in the Ionian Islands, 1843-48: A Race With Time”, European
History Quarterly, 24 (1994), p. 24.
2 Hiotis P., Istoria tou Ioniou Kratous. [History of the Ionian State], pp. 127-155; Skiathas N., I
Epivoli tis Logokrisias ke i agones ton Eptanision gia tin kataktisi tis eleferotipias [the censorship of
speech and Ionian’s struggle for free press], Praktika tou Pemptou Diethnes Panioniou Synedriou
[Proceedings of the 5th International Pan-Ionian Conference] (Argostoli-Lixouri 17-21 May 1986),
3, (Argostoli 1991), pp. 151-167. Holland and Markides also viewed Seaton's reforms as the result of
the 1848 revolutions. See Holland R., and Markides D., The British and the Hellenes, p. 16.
3 Calligas E. “Lord Seaton’s Reforms in the Ionian Islands”, p. 24.
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