Harry Escombe

Harry Escombe (25 July 183827 December 1899) was a South African statesman. Born in London, Escombe emigrated to the Colony of Natal. There he worked as a lawyer. He was briefly prime minister of the colony in 1897 and died two years later.

Early life A member of a Somersetshire family, Escombe was born at Notting Hill, London, and was educated at St Paul's School.

After four years in a stockbroker's office, he emigrated, in 1859, to the Cape. The following year he moved to the Colony of Natal, and, after trying other occupations, qualified as an attorney.

Escombe was instrumental in the creation of the Natal Observatory. In 1882 David Gill, director of the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, requested the government of Natal to establish an astronomical observatory at Durban, in anticipation of the transit of Venus on 4 December that year. A site for the observatory was chosen in the southwest corner of the Natal Botanic Gardens.