Alexander John Arbuthnot, officially addressed as Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot KCSI CIE served as the Acting Governor of Madras Presidency in the year 1872, under the rule of the British Empire in the erstwhile undivided India. He was also a well known British Colonial administrator and a writer in British India. Arbuthnot was born on 11 October 1822 in Killaloe, Ireland, to father Alexander Arbuthnot. He had 2 siblings namely, Lieutenant General Sir Charles George Arbuthnot and Major General George Bingham Arbuthnot. Brigadier General Alexander George Arbuthnot was his uncle. Alexander John Arbuthnot successfully completed his education from the Rugby School, located in the town of Rugby in Warwickshire, England.
Career of Alexander John Arbuthnot
Alexander John Arbuthnot initially acted as the director of Public Instruction in Madras (now Chennai) in the year 1855. He was a main force in the establishment of University of Madras in 1857. He also served as the Chief Secretary to the Government of Madras from the year 1862 to 1867. Arbuthnot later became a member of the Legislative Council in 1867 and held the position till 1872. He was also appointed as a member of the Madras Executive Council. He later served on the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India from 1875 to 1880.
Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot KCSI CIE was later appointed as the Acting Governor of Madras Presidency in British India on 19 February 1872. He was preceded by Francis Napier, 10th Lord Napier and 1st Baron Ettrick, KT, PC who served as the Governor of Madras Province from 27 March 1866 to 19 February 1872. The Madras Presidency, also known as the Presidency of Fort St. George and Madras Province, was an administrative sub division of British dominated India. The territory included most of southern India, such as the modern states of Tamil Nadu, the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep Islands, the Malabar region of North Kerala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur and Gajapati districts of southern Orissa and the Bellary, Ganjam, Dakshina Kannada, Rayagada and Udupi districts of Karnataka. Madras (now Chennai) was the winter capital of the province and Ootacamund (now Ooty) was the summer capital of the British presidency. Alexander John Arbuthnot served in office until 15 May 1872 and was succeeded by Sir Vere Hobart, Lord Hobart, who acted as the Governor of Madras from 15 May 1872 to 29 April 1875.
Later in 1888, Alexander John Arbuthnot became a member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India and held the designation till 1893.
Personal Life of Alexander John Arbuthnot
Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot KCSI CIE was married with Frederica Eliza Fearon. He was later married for a second time with Constance Angelena Milman. Arbuthnot died on 10 June 1907.
Honours of Alexander John Arbuthnot
Sir Alexander John Arbuthnot KCSI was knighted by the British Crown with the Knight Commander of The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (KCSI) in the year 1873 and Companion of The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.
