Muthu Coomaraswamy
 |
Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy P. Ramanathan | |
|---|---|
| Member of Colombo Municipal Council | |
| In office 1868–1873 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 January 1834 Mutwal, Ceylon |
| Died | 4 May 1879 (aged 45) |
| Children | Ceylon Tamil |
Sir Muthu Coomaraswamy (
Early life and family
Coomaraswamy was born on 23 January 1834 in Amaittodam,
Coomaraswamy married Elizabeth Clay Beebe, daughter of William Beebe from Kent, in 1878.[1][5] They had a son, Ananda Coomaraswamy, the eminent art critic.[1][6]
Career
After finishing school Coomaraswamy joined the
Coomaraswamy was appointed to the Legislative Council of Ceylon in 1862 as the unofficial member representing Tamils, replacing V. Edirmannasingham.[2] He served on the Legislative Council until his death in 1879.[1][2] He was a member of Colombo Municipal Council from March 1868 to February 1873.[8]
Coomaraswamy went on a tour of Europe in 1862 during which he was admitted as a member of Lincoln's Inn on 10 July 1862, the first non-Christian/Jew to be done so.[1][3][9] He practised law in London.[10] His English translation of the Tamil play Harischandra (Martyr of Truth) was published in 1863.[1] Coomaraswamy took on the leading role when the play was performed in front of Queen Victoria on 8 December 1863.[1][11] He was elected an honorary member of the Royal Society of Arts and was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Geological Society of London.[12] He was also a member of the Athenaeum Club.[12]
After returning to Ceylon Coomaraswamy resumed practising law at the Colombo Bar.
In 1878 Coomaraswamy became the first Tamil knight after being made a knight of the Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Victoria at Osborne House.[1][3][14][15] He died on 4 May 1879 of Bright's disease whilst preparing for another tour of England.[1][16]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. pp. 42–43.
- ^ a b c d e f g Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 13.
- ^ a b c Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 12.
- ^ a b Vythilingam 1971, p. 109.
- ^ Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 23.
- ^ "Going against the stream". The Sunday Times. 10 August 2003.
- ^ a b Vythilingam 1971, p. 110.
- ^ Hulugalle, H. A. J. (September 1965). Centenary Volume of the Colombo Municipal Council (1865–1965). Colombo Municipal Council. p. 55.
- ^ Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 14.
- ^ Vythilingam 1971, p. 111.
- ^ Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 15.
- ^ a b Vythilingam 1971, p. 113.
- ^ Vythilingam 1971, p. 114.
- ^ Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 31.
- ^ Vythilingam 1971, p. 125.
- ^ Muttucumaraswamy 1973, p. 25.
References
- Muttucumaraswamy, V. (1973). Founders of Modern Ceylon. Uma Siva Pathippakam.
- Vythilingam, M. (1971). The Life of Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan 1.