John Beecroft

John Beecroft (1790–10 June, 1854) was explorer governor of Fernando Po and British consul of the Bight of Benin and Biafra.

Beecroft was born near Whitby, England. His early life is obscure but he is known to have been captured by the French during the Napoleonic Wars in 1804 and held prisoner until 1814. He later traveled to Greenland as part of William Perry's expedition.

By 1829 he was building the infrastructure in Fernando Po and in 1830 became acting governor when Edward Nicholls (then governor) returned to England unwell. Beecroft effectively continued in the role, even holding a court of justice, after 1833 when the British pulled out and left the island to Spanish control. The Spanish formalised the job in 1843. In 1849 he was appointed consul of the Bights of Benin and Biafra by the British, a position he held until his death in 1854.

During his time as de facto governor Beecroft explored the interior of Africa using steam ships to navigate far up the Niger River, the Cross River and the Benin River. He was respected by the local people and spent time solving disputes. After he became consol assisted in the British capture of Lagos in 1851 and was instrumental in the deposition of Pepple king of Bonny in 1854. He was preparing for another expedition of the Niger River when he died and was buried on Fernando Po. His place on the expedition was taken by William Balfour Baikie.