Henry Rider Haggard was the clerk of Sir Theophilus Shepstone in Pretoria in 1877. He later became the author of the Allan Quatermain novels.
On 11 April, he was present when Osborn read the proclamation annexing the Transvaal into the British Empire.
When the Fifth Doctor and Turlough discovered that the history of the event had been altered, they met with Osborn, trying to convince him to go ahead with the annexation. They were unsuccessful, but Haggard agreed with their viewpoint and agreed to help them. He obtained Sir Theophilus' proclamation giving the Transvaal its independence, and he and the Doctor altered it. On 12 April, Osborn began reading the proclamation but faltered, and Haggard snatched it from him and finished reading it to the assembled crowd. (PROSE: White Man's Burden)
Behind the scenes[]
He was the great-great-great uncle of Daisy Haggard.