You can mark you interesting snippets of text that will be available through a unique link in your browser.


Chelmsford, Frederic John Napier Thesiger, 1st Viscount, Baron Chelmsford Of Chelmsford

Chelmsford, Frederic John Napier Thesiger, 1st Viscount, Baron Chelmsford Of Chelmsford

▪ British statesman
born August 12, 1868, London, England
died April 1, 1933, London
 English colonial administrator and statesman who served for several years as governor of Queensland and New South Wales before becoming viceroy of India; he helped to institute reforms increasing Indian representation in government but provoked opposition by his severe measures against nationalists.

      The eldest son of the second Baron Chelmsford and on his mother's side a grandson of Major General Heath of the Bombay army, he was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford University, where he led the cricket team in 1890. He later served on both the London school board and county council. In 1905 he succeeded his father as Baron Chelmsford and was appointed governor of the state of Queensland. In 1909 he became governor of New South Wales, where he was active and popular despite political conflict and labour unrest.

      Knighted in 1912, he left Australia the next year to serve in India as a captain in the Dorsetshire regiment. During the early part of World War I he received quick promotions, to the surprise of many, and was viceroy in 1916–21, in a time of surging Indian nationalism. As a result of the Montagu–Chelmsford reforms, based on the joint report of the secretary of state for India, Edwin Samuel Montagu, and of Chelmsford himself, the central and provincial legislatures were increased in size and given elected majorities. Dyarchy was introduced in the provinces, with certain departments of government transferred to the control of ministers who were responsible to the legislature, while others were responsible to the governor. The number of Indians on the viceroy's executive council of seven was increased from one to three.

      Implemented in 1919, the reforms were preceded by serious riots in Gujarāt and the Punjab. Chelmsford thus sought to enforce the Rowlatt Acts (1919), designed to give certain emergency powers to the executive, such as the internment of persons accused of subversion, but he met strong Indian opposition. Widespread disturbances led to imposition of martial law in the Punjab and questioning of Chelmsford's competence. Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation campaigns led the Congress Party in 1920 to boycott the first elections to the reformed councils.

      On his retirement in 1921 Chelmsford was created a viscount and in 1924 became first lord of the Admiralty in Ramsay MacDonald's Labour government. During his last years he was chairman of the Miner's Welfare Committee and active in education projects, collecting many honours.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

  
Share  

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford — Infobox Officeholder honorific prefix =The Right Honourable name = The Viscount Chelmsford honorific suffix = GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, PC imagesize = 200 px order1 = Viceroy of India term start1 = 4 April, 1916 term end1 = 2 April, 1921 monarch1 =… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Privy Counsellors (1837–1901) — This is a List of Privy Counsellors of the United Kingdom appointed during the reign of Queen Victoria, from 1837 to 1901. = Victoria, 1837 1901 = 1837*Henry Stephen Fox Strangways, 3rd Earl of Ilchester (1787–1858) *Henry Charles Howard, Earl of …   Wikipedia

  • List of senior officers of the Royal Navy — This is a list of senior officers of the Royal Navy.Lord High Admirals, 1413 ndash;1628*Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter 1413 ndash;1426 *John, Duke of Bedford 1426 ndash;1435 *John Holland, 2nd Duke of Exeter 1435 ndash;1447 *William de la Pole,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Privy Counsellors (1910–1936) — This is a List of Privy Counsellors of the United Kingdom appointed during the reign of King George V, from 1910 to 1936.1910*Sir Samuel Thomas Evans (1859–1918) *Prince Arthur Frederick Patrick Albert of Connaught (1883–1938) *Francis Knollys,… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Lord High Admirals and First Lords of the Admiralty — This is a List of Lord High Admirals and First Lords of the Admiralty of England, Great Britain and then the United Kingdom. Most of them were courtiers or politicians, not professional naval officers. The Lord High Admiral was one of the nine… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Old Wykehamists — Former pupils of Winchester College are known as Old Wykehamists, in memory of the school s founder, William of Wykeham, and as such are able to include OW in any list of post nominal letters. Their ranks include the following individuals,… …   Wikipedia

  • United University Club — The United University Club was a London gentlemen s club, founded in 1821. It occupied the purpose built University Club House, at 1, Suffolk Street, London, from 1826 until 1971.Formation and membershipThe Club was founded at a meeting held at… …   Wikipedia