Edward Harrison (British administrator)
Edward Harrison | |
---|---|
President of Fort St George (Madras) | |
In office 11 July 1711 – 8 January 1717 | |
Preceded by | William Fraser (acting) |
Succeeded by | Joseph Collett |
Personal details | |
Born | 3 December 1674 |
Died | 28 November 1732 |
Spouse | Frances Bray (1674–1752) |
Children | Audrey Ethelreda Harrison |
Signature | |
Edward Harrison (3 December 1674 – 28 November 1732)
Early life
Edward Harrison was born in England to Richard Harrison and Audrey Villiers daughter of George Villiers, 4th Viscount Grandison.[1] He went to India as a purser, and became a captain of ships trading with China. He was Captain of the East Indiaman Gosfright in 1701, and of the Kent in 1709. Sometime before 1708 he married Frances Bray, daughter of Reginald Bray of Great Barrington, Gloucestershire. Her brothers Edmund and William Bray were Members of Parliament.[3]
Tenure as President of Madras
Harrison was appointed
War with Gingee
Since its occupation by the
Raworth arrived in Fort St David with three ships as Fort St David was blockaded by Swaroop Singh from land. Raworth's troops ran into a contingent of 400 cavalry and 1,000-foot commanded by Mahobat Khan on 11 August 1711 and barely managed to hold their ground. However, two top officers in the army, Captain Coventry and Ensign Somerville both lost their lives along with around 140 to 150 men of the Company's army. With matters reaching a standstill, Edward Harrison tried to enthuse the
The war was, however, brought to a conclusion in April 1712 through the mediation of M.Hebert, the French Governor of Pondicherry. Swaroop Singh agreed to a settlement on payment of a war indemnity of 12,000 pagodas.
On 15 November 1714, Gingee fell to the forces of the Carnatic bringing Rajput rule to an end.
Postal service
It was during Edward Harrison's time that a
Armenian Church
The
Richard Raworth's Rebellion
In October 1713, Richard Raworth, Deputy Governor of Fort St David broke into rebellion and shook off his allegiance to Fort St George. Harrison immediately deputed a small force commanded by Henry Davenport to invade Fort St David and remove Raworth.[6] Henry Davenport was commissioned as the provisional Deputy Governor of Fort St David on 10 October 1713.
The force reached Fort St David on 18 October 1713 after passing through
Caste disturbances in Madras
In late 1716, caste disturbances broke out in Madras city which affected life and commerce in the city to a great extent. These disturbances started when a man belonging to the Komati caste which is regarded as a right-hand caste reportedly worshipped the idol of a God worshipped by the Chetties who formed a left-handed caste. The problem was solved in a few days; but tensions persisted and hostilities resumed at the slightest excuse. The continuous caste-wars forced the painters of Triplicane to leave the area. With the dispute remaining unresolved and continuing to threaten the functioning of Madras city, Harrison's was recalled and replaced with Joseph Collett.
Later life
On his return to England, Harrison was returned as Member of Parliament for
Harrison died on 28 November 1732. Through his marriage with Frances Bray, he had one son and three daughters, one of whom, Audrey "Etheldreda" Harrison, married Charles Townshend, 3rd Viscount Townshend in 1723.[7]
See also
- Governors of Madras
Notes
- ^ a b c "A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe Person Page – 2615". peerage.com. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68358. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ a b c "HARRISON, Edward (1674–1732), of Balls Park, nr. Hertford". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- ^ Muthiah, S. (12 November 2007). "Beginnings of a postal service". The Hindu: Metro Plus Chennai. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2008.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Muthiah, S. (2004). Madras Rediscovered. Chennai: East West Books. p. 119. 81-88661-24-4.
- ^ a b c Madhusudanan, Nick Balmer. "Richard Raworth's Rebellion 1713". Retrieved 26 April 2008.
- ^ "CHARLES TOWNSHEND 1700–1764, 3rd Viscount Townshend". Retrieved 3 May 2008.
References
- Talboys Wheeler, J. (1861). Madras in the Olden Time. Vol. 2. Madras: Higginbotham & Co.