Sculptured by Sir Thomas Brock and erected in 1888, this statue commemorates Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere (1815-1884) who was a British colonial administrator. He became Governor of Bombay. As High Commissioner for Southern Africa, his attempt to impose a British confederation on the region led to the overthrow of the Cape's first elected government culminating in the invasion of Zululand and the First Boer War. He was recalled to London to face charges of misconduct and was officially censured for acting recklessly.