John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth
George III | |
---|---|
Preceded by | The Earl Cornwallis |
Succeeded by | Sir Alured Clarke (Acting Governor-General) |
Personal details | |
Born | 5 October 1751 St James's, London |
Died | 14 February 1834 Portman Square, London | (aged 82)
Resting place | St Marylebone Parish Church |
Spouse |
Charlotte Cornish (m. 1786) |
Children | 9, including Charles John |
Education | Harrow School |
John Shore, 1st Baron Teignmouth, 1st Baronet (5 October 1751 – 14 February 1834) was a British official of the
Early life
Born in
Soon after his arrival in Kolkata, then called Calcutta, in May 1769 Shore was appointed to the secret political department, in which he remained for about twelve months. In September 1770 he was nominated assistant to the board of revenue at Murshidabad. Shore at the age of 19 suddenly found himself invested with the civil and fiscal jurisdiction of a large district; he also studied languages.[2]
In 1772 Shore went to
Revenue official
Shore gained the confidence of Hastings by attention to his duties. Besides superintending the collection of the revenues, he devoted much of his time to the adjudication of exchequer cases. He acted as revenue commissioner in Dacca and Behar, and he drew up plans for judicial and financial reforms. Deploring the lavish profusion of the governor-general, Shore communicated his views of the financial situation to John Macpherson, who, instead of privately imparting them to Hastings, inserted them as a minute into the records of the Supreme Council. As a result of what was seen as a breach of confidence, Shore resigned his seat on the board.[2]
In January 1785 Shore returned to England in the company of Hastings. While in England, on 14 February 1786 he married Charlotte, the only daughter of James Cornish, a medical practitioner at Teignmouth.[2]
Having been appointed by the Court of Directors to a seat on the Supreme Council, Shore returned to India, and on 21 January 1787 he took his seat as a member of the government of Bengal. Many of the reforms instituted by Charles Cornwallis were attributable to Shore's influence in the council. In the summer of 1789, Shore completed the ten-yearly settlement of the revenues of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha. Though Shore recommended caution and further inquiry, and protested against rigidity, his decision in favour of the proprietary rights of the zamindars was ratified by Cornwallis and formed the basis of the much discussed Permanent Settlement.[2]
In December 1789, Shore embarked for England, where he arrived in April 1790. He is said to have refused the offer of a baronetcy on the ground of "the incompatibility of poverty and titles". On 2 June 1790 he was examined as a witness in the
Governor-general
Shore was appointed by the court of directors governor-general of India in succession to Cornwallis on 19 September 1792, and was created a baronet on 2 October following;[3] Edmund Burke protested vainly. Shore embarked for India at the end of the month. On 10 March 1793 he arrived at Calcutta, where he remained without official employment or responsibility until the departure of Cornwallis. He succeeded to the government on 28 October 1793.[2]
The period of Shore's rule as governor-general was comparatively uneventful. His policy was attacked as temporising and timid. He acquiesced in the invasion by the
Though he showed weakness in dealing with the mutiny of the officers of the Bengal army, he boldly settled the question of the
Later life
Resigning the government into the hands of
Teignmouth never took his seat in the Irish House of Lords, nor was he elected a representative peer after the union. He was twice examined before the House of Commons on Indian affairs, on 18 June 1806 and on 30 March 1813. In consequence of the order of the House of Commons for Teignmouth's attendance on the first occasion, the House of Lords on 19 July 1806 passed a resolution maintaining the privilege of peerage as apart from the privilege of parliament. This resolution, however, was not communicated to the Commons; and on the second occasion the order of the Commons for Teignmouth's attendance was not questioned by the Lords.[2]
Shore became a prominent member of the
Teignmouth was elected president of the Royal Society of Literature, but declined the office in favour of Bishop Burgess.[2]
Works
Teignmouth was a close friend of Sir William Jones, whom he succeeded as president of the Asiatic Society of Bengal on 22 May 1794. On that occasion he delivered an address on the 'Literary History' of his predecessor (London, 1795), which was frequently reprinted, and has been translated into Italian. Three of his contributions to the society are printed in 'Asiatick Researches' (ii. 307–22, 383–7, iv. 331– 350). He translated in three manuscript volumes the Persian version of an abridgment of the 'Jôg Bashurst,' but later destroyed them in consequence of the little encouragement which his translations of Persian versions of Hindu authors received. He wrote a number of articles for the Christian Observer, and the earlier annual reports of the Bible Society were written by him. He was also the author of some mediocre verse. He published:[2]
- ‘Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Correspondence of Sir William Jones,’ London, 1804. This passed through several editions, and formed vols. i. and ii. of ‘The Works of Sir William Jones,’ which were edited by Lady Jones (London, 1807, 13 vols.)
- ‘Considerations on the Practicability, Policy, and Obligation of communicating to the Natives of India the Knowledge of Christianity. With Observations on he “Prefatory Remarks” to a pamphlet published by Major Scott Waring. By a late Resident in Bengal,’ London, 1808. Reply to John Scott-Waring.
- 'A Letter to the Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, D.D., in reply to his Strictures on the British and Foreign Bible Society,' London, 1810.
- 'Thoughts on the Providence of God,' London, 1834 (anon.)
A portrait of Teignmouth was painted by Arthur William Devis.[2]
Family
Teignmouth had three sons and six daughters by his wife, who died on 13 July 1834. He was succeeded in the title by his eldest son,
|
References
- ^ doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25452. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
- ^ "No. 13463". The London Gazette. 29 September 1792. p. 765.
- ^ "No. 14064". The London Gazette. 11 November 1797. p. 1081.
- ^ La Belle Assemblee London, February 1830.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/13312. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32523. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
- ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1838.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Shore, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
Further reading
- Charles John Shore Baron Teignmouth (1843). Memoir of the Life and Correspondence of John Lord Teignmouth. Hatchard and Son.
- Birendra Bahadur Srivastava (1981). Sir John Shore's policy towards the Indian states. Chugh.gjjn