James Thompson (British civil servant)
Encyclopedia
Sir James Thompson KCSI
(6 July 1848 – 1929) was a British civil servant and administrator who acted as the Governor of Madras from 30 April 1904 to 13 December 1904.
, Aberdeenshire
. He had his schooling at Grammar school and graduated from the University of Aberdeen
. He completed his masters' degree in 1868 and qualified for the Indian Civil Service in 1869.
from 1872 to 1882, as Head Assistant Collector from 1882 to 1885 as Sub-Collector from 1885 to 1889 and Collector from 1889 to 1895. In 1895, Thompson was appointed Resident for the Travancore
and Cochin states and served from 1895 to 1897 when he was appointed to the Board of Revenue for the Madras Presidency.
Thompson was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council
in 1898 and served as a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras from 1901 to 1906. Thomson acted as the Governor of Madras from 30 April 1904 to 13 December 1904 in the absence of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill who was selected to officiate temporarily as the Viceroy of India. In 1908, Thompson was nominated to the council of the Secretary of State for India
.
in the year 1904.
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(6 July 1848 – 1929) was a British civil servant and administrator who acted as the Governor of Madras from 30 April 1904 to 13 December 1904.
Early life and education
James Thompson was born in 1848 to John Thomson in CultsCults
Cults is a suburb on the western edge of Aberdeen, Scotland. It lies on the banks of the River Dee and marks the eastern boundary of Royal Deeside.Cults, known for its historic granite housing, sits approximately six miles from the coast of the North Sea...
, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
. He had his schooling at Grammar school and graduated from the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
. He completed his masters' degree in 1868 and qualified for the Indian Civil Service in 1869.
Service in India
Thompson arrived in India in 1871 and served as Assistant Collector in the Madras PresidencyMadras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
from 1872 to 1882, as Head Assistant Collector from 1882 to 1885 as Sub-Collector from 1885 to 1889 and Collector from 1889 to 1895. In 1895, Thompson was appointed Resident for the Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
and Cochin states and served from 1895 to 1897 when he was appointed to the Board of Revenue for the Madras Presidency.
Thompson was nominated to the Madras Legislative Council
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
in 1898 and served as a member of the Executive Council of the Governor of Madras from 1901 to 1906. Thomson acted as the Governor of Madras from 30 April 1904 to 13 December 1904 in the absence of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill who was selected to officiate temporarily as the Viceroy of India. In 1908, Thompson was nominated to the council of the Secretary of State for India
Secretary of State for India
The Secretary of State for India, or India Secretary, was the British Cabinet minister responsible for the government of India and the political head of the India Office...
.
Honours
Thompson was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of IndiaOrder of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
in the year 1904.