Alexander Beatson
Encyclopedia
Alexander Beaston was an officer in the East India Company
's service, governor of St. Helena, and an experimental agriculturist.
, co. Fife, and brother of Robert Beatson
the writer. He obtained a cadetship in 1775, and was appointed to an ensigncy in the Madras infantry
, 21 Nov. 1776. He served as an engineer officer in the war with Hyder Ali
, although he appears never to have belonged to the engineers. As lieutenant, he served with the Guides in Lord Cornwallis
's campaigns against Tippu Sultan; and eight years after, as a field officer, was surveyor-general with the army under Lieutenant-general Harris
, which captured Seringapatam
in 1799. He attained the rank of colonel 1 Jan. 1801.
After he had quitted India, Beatson was appointed to the governorship of St. Helena,
which he held from 1808 to 1813. The island, which then belonged to the East
India Company, was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The scanty population had been
nearly swept off by an epidemic of measles
a short time previously, and, although recruited by emigrants from England and by Chinese coolies, was in a wretched state. The acts of the home authorities in suppressing the spirit traffic and other matters gave rise to great discontent, resulting in a mutiny in 1811, which was put down by the
firmness of Beatson, who also introduced a better system of cultivation and many other
beneficial measures.
After his return to England, he devoted much attention to experiments in agriculture at Knole farm near
Tunbridge Wells, and Henley, Essex. He became major-general July 1810, lieutenant-general June 1814, and died 14 July 1833.
works:
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
's service, governor of St. Helena, and an experimental agriculturist.
Life
He was second son of Robert Beatson, Esq., of KilrieKilrie
Kilrie is a railway locomotive, built in South Australia.Built by Perry Engineering of Gawler in November 1924 this tiny locomotive was one of twelve similar units purchased by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission of Victoria for use on the construction of the Hume Weir on the Murray River...
, co. Fife, and brother of Robert Beatson
Robert Beatson
Robert Beatson, LL.D. was a Scottish compiler and miscellaneous writer.-Life:He was born in 1742 at Dysart in Fifeshire. He was educated for the military profession, and on one of his title-pages describes himself as 'late of his majesty's corps of Royal Engineers'...
the writer. He obtained a cadetship in 1775, and was appointed to an ensigncy in the Madras infantry
Madras Army
The Madras Army was the army of the Presidency of Madras, one of the three presidencies of the British India within the British Empire.The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 transferred all three...
, 21 Nov. 1776. He served as an engineer officer in the war with Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
, although he appears never to have belonged to the engineers. As lieutenant, he served with the Guides in Lord Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
's campaigns against Tippu Sultan; and eight years after, as a field officer, was surveyor-general with the army under Lieutenant-general Harris
George Harris, 1st Baron Harris
George Harris, 1st Baron Harris GCB was a British soldier.Harris was the son of the Reverend George Harris, curate of Brasted, Kent. He was educated at Westminster School and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he was commissioned to the Royal Artillery in 1760, transferring to an ensigncy in...
, which captured Seringapatam
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War was a war in South India between the Sultanate of Mysore and the British East India Company under the Earl of Mornington....
in 1799. He attained the rank of colonel 1 Jan. 1801.
After he had quitted India, Beatson was appointed to the governorship of St. Helena,
which he held from 1808 to 1813. The island, which then belonged to the East
India Company, was in a very unsatisfactory condition. The scanty population had been
nearly swept off by an epidemic of measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
a short time previously, and, although recruited by emigrants from England and by Chinese coolies, was in a wretched state. The acts of the home authorities in suppressing the spirit traffic and other matters gave rise to great discontent, resulting in a mutiny in 1811, which was put down by the
firmness of Beatson, who also introduced a better system of cultivation and many other
beneficial measures.
After his return to England, he devoted much attention to experiments in agriculture at Knole farm near
Tunbridge Wells, and Henley, Essex. He became major-general July 1810, lieutenant-general June 1814, and died 14 July 1833.
Works
Beatson was the author of the followingworks:
- An Account of the Isles of France and Bourbon, 1794, which was never printed, and remains in manuscript at the British Museum (Add. MS. 13868).
- A View of the Origin and Conduct of the War against Tippoo Sultaun (London, 1800, 4to).
- Tracts relative to the Island of St. Helena, with views (London, 1816, 4to)
- other smaller works on the island besides contributions to the St. Helena Monthly Register
- A New System of Cultivation without Lime or Dung, or Summer Fallowing, as practised at Knole Farm, Sussex (London, 1820, 8vo);
- various papers on improvements in agriculture.