English presence in what later evolved into the Province of Madras started
in 1639 when English traders acquired some lands for the erection of a fort
in Madraspatnam on the Indian East Coast
In the course of the following years this Fort St. George became the center
of all English/British activities in the region and gradually its authority
- first limited to some coastal settlements - was extended to include all
territories under direct or indirect British rule in South Eastern and South
India. (1)
In 1937 - following the passing of the Government of India Act by the British
Parliament in 1935 - the province was granted autonomy.
In 1939 the government however resigned and the administration was taken over
by the British governor.
(1) Unlike it was the case elsewhere in India - were many Indian Princely
States continued to exist as Protectorates - most States in relation
to the British-Indian Government of Madras, were gradually annexed to
the Province and by 1939 only three so-called "Madras States" - then
however in direct relation to the central British-Indian government -
still existed.
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BRITISH CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS
Governors
1866 - 1872 Francis Napier, Baron Napier of
Merchistoun 1819 - 1898
1872 Alexander John Arbuthnot* 1822 - 1907
1872 - 1875 Vere Henry Hobart 1818 - 1875
1875 William Rose Robinson* 1822 - 1886
1875 - 1880 Richard Plantagenet Campbell
Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-
Grenville, Duke of Buckingham
and Chandos 1823 - 1889
1880 - 1881 William Patrick Adam 1823 - 1881
1881 William Huddleston* 1826 - 1894
1881 - 1886 Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff 1828 - 1906
1886 - 1890 Robert Bourke, Baron Connemara (1887) 1827 - 1903
1890 - 1891 John Henry Garstin
1891 - 1896 Bentley Lawley, Baron Wenlock 1849 - 1912
1896 - 1900 Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock 1844 - 1908
1900 - 1906 Arthur Oliver Villiers-Russell,
Baron Ampthill 1869 - 1935
1906 Gabriel Stoles* 1849 - 1920
1906 - 1911 Sir Arthur Lawley 1860 - 1932
1911 - 1912 Sir Thomas David Gibson-Carmichael 1859 - 1926
1912 Sir Murray Hammick* 1854 - 1936
1912 - 1919 John Sinclair, Baron Pentland of Lyth 1860 - 1925
1919 Sir Alexander Gordon Cardew* 1861 - 1937
1919 - 1924 George Freeman Freeman-Thomas,
Baron Willingdon 1866 - 1941
1924 Sir Charles George Todhunter* 1869 - 1949
1924 - 1929 George Joachim Goschen, Viscount
Goschen of Hawkhurst 1866 - 1952
1929 Sir Norman Edward Majoribanks* 1872 - 1939
1929 - 1934 Lt. Col. Sir George Frederick Stanley 1872 - 1938
1934 - 1940 Sir John Francis Ashley Erskine 1895 - 1953
1940 - 1946 Sir Arthur Oswald James Hope,
Baron Rankeillour 1897 - 1958
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