Port Elizabeth was named for Elizabeth Donkin.   Whilst it is not unusual for towns to be named after women, these are normally queens or benefactresses. This was not the case for Port Elizabeth and how it came about is one of the great tragic love stories.

Rufane Donkin was a true son of Empire, serving his King in far flung dominions.  Himself the son of a general - Robert Donkin - he saw service with two regiments, the 11th and 44th Foot.  Returning to England, probably in his 30s (we do not know his date of birth) he sought a wife.

Many in his social position found a "suitable" young lady, and a marriage would be arranged by the families, with consideration being given to dowries, heritage, and hopefully some affection!  The Donkin courtship was unusual that it was truly romantic.

Elizabeth Frances Markham was born on 28 August 1790 to a clerical family.  Her grandfather had been the Archbishop of York (The Rt. Rev. Dr. William Markham) and her father (Richard) was the Dean of York.  1815 was the year of the Battle of Waterloo, and it was in this year - on May Day - that she married Rufane at Stokesley in Yorkshire.  At this time Rufane Donkin was a Lt.-General, and he was soon called to go to India; his new bride accompanied him.            By 1817 she was expecting their first child and gave birth to a son - George David - on 24th December of that year. In the heat of India, she never fully recovered, and died of a fever in Meerut on 21st of August 1818.

Rufane was devastated, conditions of the time necessitated a quick burial of his young wife, and he immediately left India to return to England, taking his baby son and Elizabeth's embalmed heart with him.  At that time British interests in South Africa were in the Cape Colony, which was  administered by a Governor - Lord Charles Somerset. Somerset was called to England for discussions - a long operation in the days of sailing ships - and Rufane was intercepted on his journey and asked to take the position of Acting- Governor until Somerset returned.

Whilst in the Cape he journeyed to Algoa Bay to supervise the landing of the organised British immigrants (whom we refer to as "The Settlers" today). He immediately saw that a sea-port would be necessary if the new settlements in the Eastern Cape were to be viable.   On 6 June 1820 he named the site of the landings, and the temporary "tent city", Port Elizabeth; and arranged land for those who could invest. In August 1820 he selected the site of today's Donkin Reserve, as the position to build a memorial to his late wife.   In the early 1800s pyramids were a not an  uncommon memorial in both India and England, and the one he commissioned was based on that of an ancient Roman, Caius  Cestius.

Today, The Donkin, is forever a green space in the city centre, bequeathed by Sir Rufane, who was later knighted for his services to his country.  The Lighthouse was a special exception and erected in 1861.

Sir Rufane lived on in England, and eventually remarried, Lady Anna Maria Elliot in 1832, but he never got over his tragic loss of Elizabeth. In 1841, on the anniversary of Elizabeth's death, he took his own life.  He was interred at St Pancras churchyard in London.

. . . And Elizabeth's heart?  Contrary to popular belief this is not under the pyramid in Port Elizabeth, but in London where it lies with her husband.  Port Elizabeth, a city named after a lady who never visited it, nor knew of it; remains a testament to the love of Sir Rufane Donkin.