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The Right Honourable Harmon Lambourne
File:CM Harmon Lambourne 1900.jpg Official portrait of Harmon Lambourne, 1900
1st Chief Minister of Imagua
In office 29 June, 1892 – 27 December, 1908
Deputy	none (1892-1908) Dick Parlow (1908)
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	Dick Parlow
Member of Parliament for New Burdale
In office 29 June, 1892 – 27 December, 1908
Preceded by	position created
Succeeded by	TBD
Personal details
Born	Harmon Lambourne (1828-10-01)1 October 1828 Lambourne House, Saint Ellen's, Imagua, Estmere
Died	27 December 1908(1908-12-27) (aged 80) Cuanstad, Saint Ellen's, Imagua, Estmere
Resting place	King's Cemetery
Nationality	Estmerish
Political party	Sotirian Democratic Party
Spouse	Hannah Lambourne
Children	8

Harmon Lambourne (1 October, 1828 - 27 December, 1908) was an Imaguan landowner and politician who served as the first Chief Minister of Imagua after the Colony of Imagua was granted self-government by Estmere in 1892, until his death in 1908.

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Early life and career

Harmon Lambourne was born on 1 October, 1828 as the eldest son of Jonas Lambourne and Joan Lambourne near New Burdale. As descendants of large landowners who previously owned slaves until slavery was abolished in 1795, Harmon Lambourne grew up at the family plantation, where Lambourne received his education via private tutors, with his studies being largely influenced by both the classics and by preparations for him to some day inherit the Lambourne plantation.

In 1857, when Jonas Lambourne died, Harmon Lambourne took over the plantation. Harmon built on his father's wealth, acquiring more land until by 1870, Lambourne had "control over almost all the land this side of the Glen River between New Burdale and Blackburn." By 1871, Harmon Lambourne's estate was measured at around 75 square miles (194.25 km²), and his net worth was estimated to be around 255,961 shillings (in today's money, 289,800,751ſ04 or €36,104,953.84), making him among the wealthiest persons in the colony at the time, and the largest landowner in Saint Ellen's Parish. Lambourne at the time was noted for employing 752 workers "of Coian origin," with most of them being of gowsa origin, with a handful of Senrians "who arrived in the past few years."

Lambourne's wealth allowed him to finance community institutions in New Burdale, which helped boost his popularity among townsmen as being "a kind and benevolent benefactor" for their town. In 1880, Lambourne became the Mayor of New Burdale, and would in this period gain prominence across the colony for his wealth and for his philanthropy.

Political career

Early years

By the late 1880s, Harmon Lambourne became an advocate for Imaguan self-governance, with Lambourne saying that "while we are not yet ready to fully become a sovereign state, after over two centuries of Estmerish settlement and presence" [over Imagua], "it is no longer sustainable for Imaguans to wait for Morwall to speak before we do anything."

In 1890, Harmon Lambourne was succeeded by radical reformer Bertrand O'Devine, who was the son of a Caldish immigrant and a champion of Bahio-Imaguans, as Mayor of New Burdale, having been defeated by O'Devine by a narrow margin. While Lambourne was disappointed by his loss to O'Devine, his newly freed time could now be spent on advocating for colonial self-government.

Harmon Lambourne sought a system "similar to that of our motherland, where there is a Chamber of Commons to represent the commoners, a Legislative Council for the propertied class, and to have some control over our own affairs," primarily over immigration from "outside the empire," property, taxation, education, and "passing laws in accordance with local conditions." This was supported by many landowners, whose families have lived on Imagua for at least a century, and who now wanted some degree of autonomy within Great Estmere.

By late 1891, Harmon Lambourne, sensing that the Estmerish government was planning to give Imagua self-government, established the Sotirian Democratic Party, with the intention of organising "a government-in-waiting" that would represent the interests of the propertied class.

The following year, the Colony of Imagua was granted self-government, with effect from 29 June, 1892. While Lambourne assumed that his leadership in the self-government movement would guarantee him "no opposition at all" to be the first Chief Minister, Cornelius Suthemeer would form the Democratic Party which was opposed to the Sotirian Democratic Party, and which sought to enfranchise all men and widows.

Despite this challenge, Lambourne was able to successfully lead the Sotirian Democrats to government, taking 20 of the 36 seats in the Chamber of Commons of the Imaguan Parliament on 27 May, 1892.

Prime Minister

On 29 June, 1892, Harmon Lambourne was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the Colony of Imagua. He would unveil his cabinet.

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Personal life

Family

Harmon Lambourne married 18-year old Hannah Clarke in 1859, and would remain married until her death in 1904 at the age of 63 from ovarian cancer. Lambourne would never remarry, describing Hannah as being "the love of my life."

Together, they had six sons: Reginald (1860-1924); Tyler (1862-1933); Wilfred (1866-1922); twin brothers Enoch (1868-1941) and Lindsay (1868-1895), and Earl (1872-1971). They had two daughters: Patricia (1864-1865) and Donna (1870-1956).