he was appointed inspector of schools in 1892 (becoming the first black man to do so) and assistant colonial secretary for native affairs in 1900. in lagos, nigeria, he continued to progress doing much work on the board of education, serving as director of education between 1906 and 1918, and became the resident of the colony of nigeria in 1918. he appears to be the first black man under british colonial rule to achieve this position. henry carr was one of the few west africans during the early twentieth century that broke barriers in colonial governance.