Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Fuller, Thomas Ekins
FULLER, Sir THOMAS EKINS (1831–1910), agent-general for Cape Colony, born at West Drayton on 24 Aug. 1831, was son of Andrew Gunton Fuller, baptist minister, who was a popular preacher and an amateur artist of some distinction. Andrew Fuller [q. v.], the baptist theologian, was his grandfather. His mother was Esther Hobson. Mr. Robert Fuller, author of 'South Africa at Home,' is his brother. Educated at a private school, and then at the Bristol Baptist College, Fuller became baptist minister at Melksham, and afterwards served baptist chapels at Lewes and Luton. He subsequently turned his attention to literature and contributed freely to the press. In 1864 he went to South Africa to become editor of the 'Cape Argus.' He rapidly became a leader in the social and political life in Cape Colony. He won distinction for brilliant articles on social and educational work in the 'Argus,' and was one of the promoters of the Cape University. While editor of the 'Cape Argus' Fuller ardently advocated responsible government for the Cape Colony, which was granted by the imperial government in 1872. He was one of those chiefly instrumental in educating colonial opinion on the subject. In 1873 Fuller was appointed emigration agent to the Cape Colony in London, but in 1875 he returned to Cape Town to take up the post of general manager there of the Union Steamship Company. He held this office for twenty-three years.
Meanwhile he engaged actively in politics. In 1878 he was returned as one of the members for Cape Town in the House of Assembly, and retained the seat till his resignation in 1902. He was an eloquent and impressive speaker in parliament and advocated every progressive measure. He refused office, believing that he could serve the colony better as a private member. In his last years in parliament he was a steady and a prominent supporter of Cecil Rhodes's policy, and became his intimate friend. In 1898 he was made a director of De Beers Consohdated Mines Company, and thereupon he resigned his post with the Union Co. from a fear that the prominent part he took in party politics might react prejudicially on the welfare of the company. At the same time he found time for municipal work and was a member of the town council, a trustee of the public library, chairman of the harbour board, and a leading spirit in the chamber of commerce.
At the end of 1901 he returned to England, and on 1 Jan. 1902 assumed the office of agent-general to the Cape, resigning the De Beers directorship at the same time; he remained agent-general till 1907. In 1903 he was made C.M.G. and next year K.C.M.G. He died at Tunbridge Wells on 5 Sept. 1910. Fuller married (1) in 1855 Mary Playne, daughter of Isaac Hillier of Nailsworth, and by her had three sons and a daughter; (2) in 1875 Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Mann of Cowes. His eldest son, Mr. William Henry Fuller, commanded the East London town guard during the Boer war of 1899-1902. Fuller was a man of high intellectual culture, and a profound student of philosophy. To the end of his life he reviewed literary works in the press and contributed a notable article to the 'Westminster Review' on 'Man's Relation to the Universe through Cosmic Emotion' (reprinted 1902). His last publication was 'Cecil Rhodes, a Monograph and Reminiscence' (1910), a valuable contribution to the biography of his friend.
[Anglo-African Who's Who, 1905; personal knowledge.]