Francis Hastings of Madras
Encyclopedia
Francis Hastings was a British administrator and a factor of the British East India Company
who functioned as the President of Madras from January 18, 1720 to October 15, 1721.
On February 19, 1720, a Havildar had stopped a consignment of goods belonging to the British East India Company
from passing through the village of Egmore
and arrested the transporters. When the news reach the Directors the next morning, a dubash and later, the Company's chief peon were dispatched to negotiate with the Havildar. But when the Chief peon approached the Havildar, a struggle broke out between the peons and 50 of the Havildar's supporters in which the Chief peon shot dead the Havildar and 2 of his supporters. The chief peon was commended for his act by the President. However, these incidents and other misgivings were thoroughly investigated by Hastings' successor James Macrae
.
Hastings regarded the Chetties of Madras with a great amount of aversion and dislike. Hence, in April 1720, when the tidings of a secret correspondence between the Portuguese at Goa and the Chetties of Madras reached the ears of the Directors, Hastings proclaimed that the Chetties of Madras intended to desert the British and migrate emmasse to the Portuguese colony of St. Thome. He placed the chief of the Chetties under confinement and promised a handsome reward to anyone who would provide a testimony to the conspiracy. But no one came forward. More important, Hastings provoked the ire of Factor Elwick who was thoroughly displeased with the President's conduct.
However, despite the internal troubles, Hastings' Presidency was one of relative calm. The Company maintained a peaceful relationship with the Nawab of Carnatic as well as the Mughal Subedar of Deccan.
On October 15, 1721, Francis Hastings was replaced with Nathaniel Elwick as the President of Fort St George.
British 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...
who functioned as the President of Madras from January 18, 1720 to October 15, 1721.
Tenure as President of Madras
Hastings' Presidency which barely lasted a year and a half was remarkable for its tyranny and the President's blatant abuse of power.On February 19, 1720, a Havildar had stopped a consignment of goods belonging to the British East India Company
British 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...
from passing through the village of Egmore
Egmore
-Main places:* Chennai Egmore railway station.* Office of the commissioner of Greater Chennai Police department.* Government Museum, Chennai.* Connemara Public Library, one of the biggest libraries in India.* National Art Gallery...
and arrested the transporters. When the news reach the Directors the next morning, a dubash and later, the Company's chief peon were dispatched to negotiate with the Havildar. But when the Chief peon approached the Havildar, a struggle broke out between the peons and 50 of the Havildar's supporters in which the Chief peon shot dead the Havildar and 2 of his supporters. The chief peon was commended for his act by the President. However, these incidents and other misgivings were thoroughly investigated by Hastings' successor James Macrae
James Macrae
James Macrae was a Scottish seaman and administrator who served as the President of Fort St George from 1725 to 1730. He is known for naval exploits against the pirate Edward England and for reforming the administration of Madras Presidency....
.
Hastings regarded the Chetties of Madras with a great amount of aversion and dislike. Hence, in April 1720, when the tidings of a secret correspondence between the Portuguese at Goa and the Chetties of Madras reached the ears of the Directors, Hastings proclaimed that the Chetties of Madras intended to desert the British and migrate emmasse to the Portuguese colony of St. Thome. He placed the chief of the Chetties under confinement and promised a handsome reward to anyone who would provide a testimony to the conspiracy. But no one came forward. More important, Hastings provoked the ire of Factor Elwick who was thoroughly displeased with the President's conduct.
However, despite the internal troubles, Hastings' Presidency was one of relative calm. The Company maintained a peaceful relationship with the Nawab of Carnatic as well as the Mughal Subedar of Deccan.
On October 15, 1721, Francis Hastings was replaced with Nathaniel Elwick as the President of Fort St George.