Jonathan Duncan

Jonathan Duncan was a well known British administrator, who served as the Governor of Bombay Presidency from the year 1795 to 1811 in the erstwhile undivided India under the rule of the British East India Company. He was also acted one of the most prominent colonial administrators. Duncan was born on 15 May 1756 and went to British India in 1772. He was assigned as superintendent and Resident of British India at Benares in 1788 by Lord Cornwallis. During his tenure as the Political Agent, he assisted in the abolition of the practice of infanticide. In the year 1791, he established the Sanskrit College of Hindu law and Philosophy at Varanasi (Benares).

Duncan was appointed as the Governor of Bombay Presidency on 9 November 1795 and was preceded by John Griffith, who acted as the Governor of the province from 9 November 1795 to 27 December 1795. The Presidency of Bombay (now known as Mumbai) was one of the Presidencies and provinces of British India. The region was initially founded during the 17th century at Surat as a trading post for the British East India Company. Bombay Presidency included the territories of modern states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, regions of Konkan, Kandesh and Desh and northwestern Karnataka state.

Jonathan Duncan held office till 11 August 1811 for a period of almost 16 years. He held office till his death on 11 August 1811. Duncan was succeeded by George Brown, who was assigned Acting Governor of Bombay on 11 August 1811 and served until 12 August 1812.

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