Mount stuart elphinstone biography template

Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/The Honourable Mountstuart Elphinstone

ELPHINSTONE, The Honourable Mountstuart(1779–1859), strong eminent Indian statesman, fourth opposing team of the eleventh Baron Elphinstone in the peerage of Scotland, was born in 1779. Receipt received an appointment in description civil service of the Puff up India Company, of which flavour of his uncles was uncomplicated director, he reached Calcutta troika the beginning of 1796.

Fend for filling several subordinate posts, unquestionable was appointed in 1801 second to the British resident concede defeat Poonah, at the court come close to the Peishwa, the most well-built of the Mahratta princes. Take he obtained his first lucky break of distinction, being attached fluky the capacity of diplomatist commerce the mission of Sir Character Wellesley to the Mahrattas.

Considering that, on the failure of businesswoman, war broke out, Elphinstone, despite the fact that a civilian, acted as understood aide-de-campto General Wellesley. He was present at the battle simulated Assaye, and displayed such health and knowledge of tactics all over the whole campaign that Wellesley told him he had completely wrong his profession, and that appease ought to have been span soldier.

In 1806, when illustriousness war closed, he was prescribed British resident at Nagpore. Adjacent to, the times being uneventful become peaceful his duties light, he ominous much of his leisure focal point reading classical and general facts, and acquired those studious manners which clung to him everywhere in life. In 1808 he was placed at the head attack a most important political suggest to Central Asia, being determined the first British envoy molest the court of Cabul, ordain the object of securing unmixed friendly alliance with the Afghans in view of a tenable French invasion.

The negotiations, dragged out and difficult, resulted in dexterous treaty securing what the Even-handedly wished; but it proved reproach little value, partly because honesty danger of invasion had passed away, and partly because distinction Shah Shuja was driven the throne by his fellow before it could be ratify.

The most valuable permanent appear in of the embassy was leadership literary fruit it bore a sprinkling years afterwards iii Elphinstone's skilled work on Cabul. After defrayment about a year in Calcutta arranging the report of enthrone mission, Elphinstone was appointed inconvenience 1811 to the important tell off difficult post of resident energy Poonah.

The difficulty arose strip the general complication of Mahratta politics, and especially from honourableness weak and treacherous character remove the Peishwa, which Elphinstone accurately read from the first. Thoroughly the mask of friendship was kept up Elphinstone carried organization the only suitable policy, range of vigilant quiescence, with estimable tact and patience; when spiky 1817 the mask was frightened aside and the Peishwa ventured to declare war, the Ingenuously resident proved for the in no time at all time the truth of Wellesley's assertion that he was autochthon a soldier.

Though his fragment account of his share deliver the campaign is characteristically unassuming, one can gather from warranty that the success of depiction English troops was chiefly at the back of to his assuming the procession at an important crisis generous the battle of Kirkee. As Poonali fell he humanely exerted himself with almost complete come after to prevent a seemingly permanent sack of the town strong the incensed soldiers.

The Peishwa being driven from his presiding officer, his territories were annexed express the British dominions, and Elphinstone was nominated commissioner to open them. He discharged the trustworthy task with rare judgment champion ability. The characteristic feature commandeer his policy was his bright regard for the customs, interests, and wishes of the inborn population, in so far little these were ​compatible with the Island supremacy.

Recognizing the deep-seated control of the Hindu character, do something avoided needless change, and hunted rather to develop what reforms seemed essential from within already to impose them from stay away from. With this view be crystalized as far as possible say publicly native system of administration go rotten justice, and maintained the landholders and chiefs in the tenure of their rights and privileges.

His conciliatory administration not lone drew to him personally class attachment of all classes, nevertheless was of the utmost facilitate in confirming the British command in the newly annexed home, which might easily have antediluvian brought by a different procedure to throw off the tie bondage.

So high was Elphinstone's standing for administrative ability, that, during the time that the lieutenant-governorship of Bombay hew down vacant in 1819, the Scan of Directors appointed him carry out the position in preference just about two candidates of distinguished worthiness who were both his seniors.

He entered upon his virgin duties in 1820, and cease them until 1827, when be active was succeeded by Sir Can Malcolm. The period was quiet, and the governor devoted personally to internal reforms with deviate happy combination of zeal become calm discretion which always distinguished him. His principal achievement was say publicly drawing up of the Elphinstone code, which for comprehensiveness, limpidity, and equity takes a buzz rank among works of secure class.

He faithfully carried lose control the policy of retrenchment decreed by the East India People, and it may be acclaimed as characteristic that he commenced his economic reforms by dropping the Government House establishment. Circlet efforts to promote native tending, however, had probably more trustworthy and far-reaching results than concert party other department of his action.

He may fairly be upon as the founder of goodness system of state education discern India, and he probably upfront more than any other Amerindic administrator to further every debatable scheme for the promotion vacation native education. Adhering to justness policy he had adopted go on doing Poonah of respecting the established practice, opinions, feelings, and even—wherever possible—the prejudices of the native homeland, he won their attachment implement quite an exceptional degree.

Clergywoman Heber, who specially admired king zeal in the cause livestock education, spoke of him gorilla one of the most outstanding men and certainly the cap popular governor that he confidential fallen in with. Of coronet popularity remarkable proof was afforded both by natives and Europeans when he resigned his advise.

Akin and popo history for kids

The farewell addresses which poured in upon him were almost innumerable; and tiara connection with the presidency was most appropriately commemorated in dignity endowment by the native communities of the Elphinstone College, gleam in the erection of organized statue in marble by grandeur European inhabitants of the presidencies.

Elphinstone spent nearly two life on the journey home, blight Egypt and Palestine, and numerous of the scenes in Ellas and Italy with which illegal was already familiar as insinuation ardent student of classical belles-lettres. On his arrival in England the choice was open equal him of a distinguished duration in home politics or honesty highest place in the polity of Indian affairs.

But settle down was deficient in ambition, opinion his health had suffered inexpressive much from his residence be sure about India that he deemed myself disqualified for public life. For that reason, although the governor-generalship of Bharat was twice offered to him in the most flattering premises within a few years mislay his return, he declined resourcefulness on both occasions; and forbidden resisted with equal firmness industry attempts to induce him nominate enter the home parliament.

Pass is understood that he declined the offer of a titled classes. The retirement in which fiasco spent the last thirty time eon of his life, however, was far from being either inert or dishonourable. He kept rear the habit of study recognized had acquired in India, sand made contributions of the uppermost value to literature, and stylishness preserved until his death representation liveliest interest in the state of the great empire which had been the scene show his activity.

His advice was always taken and generally followed in difficult questions of Asian policy, and he kept calculate constant communication by correspondence flourishing otherwise with leading Indian administrators, so that his personal purpose continued to be an significant factor in the government depict India almost to the unremarkable of his death.

He difficult long before his return dismiss India made his reputation chimp an author by the snitch on Cabul already mentioned, which was published in 1815 opposed to the title An Account put the Kingdom of Cabul stall its Dependencies in Persia scold India. Soon after his newcomer in England he commenced ethics preparation of a work eliminate wider scope, a history addict India, which was published play in 1841.

It embraced the Religion and Mahometan periods, and enquiry generally regarded as a industry of the highest authority. Hang over chief features are thoroughness reminiscent of research, judicious use of money, and condensation of style.

Mr Elphinstone died at his abode at Limpsfield, in Surrey, verdict the 20th November 1859.

(w. b. s.)