William Orfeur Cavenagh
Encyclopedia
Major General
Sir Orfeur Cavenagh KCSI
(1820–1891) was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, who governed the Straits Settlements
from 1859 to 1867.
Singapore's Cavenagh Bridge
is named in honour of the governor. The coat of arms
of the Cavenagh family can still be seen atop the signage at both ends of the bridge.
He was the third son of James Gordon Cavenagh and Ann née Coates. He married Elizabeth Marshall Moriarty on 7 Sept 1842 at Dinapore, India and died in 1891 leaving two sons.
Cavenagh trained at Addiscombe
, a Military Seminary for the British East India Company. He passed his examination in June 1837 and early in 1838 joined the 32nd Regt. N.I. In 1840 he passed the prescribed examination at the College of Fort William. He was appointed as Interpreter and Quartermaster to the 41st Regt. N.I. He was attached to the Force employed in watching the Nepaul frontier 1840/41.
He was an Adjutant of the 4th Irregular Cavalry (Skinner's Horse
) and in December 1843 was badly wounded in the Battle of Maharajpore. His leg was severed just above the ankle by a round shot and his horse was killed under him. He was wounded again in January 1846 during the Sikh campaign
when he was struck in the left arm by a ricochetting round shot. After this he was appointed as Superintendent of the Mysore Princes
and of the ex-Ameers
of Sindh
. In 1850 he visited England in political charge of the Nepal Embassy. In 1854 he was appointed Town and Fort Major of Calcutta
. In this role he was responsible to the Governor-General
, the Marquess of Dalhousie
followed by Lord Canning
, for the safety of Fort William
during the time of the Indian Mutiny
.
In a Royal Charter of 1826, Singapore, Malacca and Penang were combined to form the Straits Settlements. The Governor of the Settlements and his council were answerable to the Governor-General of India in Calcutta. The Governor had little formal power, but was able to influence the Calcutta authorities who relied largely on the recommendations of these representatives on legislation and policy in each settlement. Control passed from Bengal to the Colonial Office in London on 1 April 1967 and the Settlements became a crown colony. Cavenagh was the last Governor who reported to the Governor-General in Calcutta. His successor, Sir Harry Ord reported to the Colonial Office in London.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Sir Orfeur Cavenagh KCSI
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...
(1820–1891) was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, who governed the Straits Settlements
Straits Settlements
The Straits Settlements were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony on 1 April 1867...
from 1859 to 1867.
Singapore's Cavenagh Bridge
Cavenagh Bridge
Cavenagh Bridge is the only suspension bridge and one of the oldest bridges in Singapore, spanning the lower reaches of the Singapore River in the Downtown Core...
is named in honour of the governor. The coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Cavenagh family can still be seen atop the signage at both ends of the bridge.
He was the third son of James Gordon Cavenagh and Ann née Coates. He married Elizabeth Marshall Moriarty on 7 Sept 1842 at Dinapore, India and died in 1891 leaving two sons.
Cavenagh trained at Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
, a Military Seminary for the British East India Company. He passed his examination in June 1837 and early in 1838 joined the 32nd Regt. N.I. In 1840 he passed the prescribed examination at the College of Fort William. He was appointed as Interpreter and Quartermaster to the 41st Regt. N.I. He was attached to the Force employed in watching the Nepaul frontier 1840/41.
He was an Adjutant of the 4th Irregular Cavalry (Skinner's Horse
3rd Skinner's Horse
The 3rd Skinner's Horse was originally raised at Hansi by Lt.-Col. James Skinner as the 2nd Regiment of Skinner’s Horse in 1814, the various changes and amalgamations are listed below.*1814 2nd Regiment of Skinner's Horse*1821 Baddeley’s Frontier Horse...
) and in December 1843 was badly wounded in the Battle of Maharajpore. His leg was severed just above the ankle by a round shot and his horse was killed under him. He was wounded again in January 1846 during the Sikh campaign
First Anglo-Sikh War
The First Anglo-Sikh War was fought between the Sikh Empire and the British East India Company between 1845 and 1846. It resulted in partial subjugation of the Sikh kingdom.-Background and causes of the war:...
when he was struck in the left arm by a ricochetting round shot. After this he was appointed as Superintendent of the Mysore Princes
Kingdom of Mysore
The Kingdom of Mysore was a kingdom of southern India, traditionally believed to have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. The kingdom, which was ruled by the Wodeyar family, initially served as a vassal state of the Vijayanagara Empire...
and of the ex-Ameers
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. In 1850 he visited England in political charge of the Nepal Embassy. In 1854 he was appointed Town and Fort Major of Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. In this role he was responsible to the Governor-General
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
, the Marquess of Dalhousie
James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie
James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC was a Scottish statesman, and a colonial administrator in British India....
followed by Lord Canning
Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning
Charles John Canning, 1st Earl Canning KG, GCB, PC , known as The Viscount Canning from 1837 to 1859, was an English statesman and Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.-Background and education:...
, for the safety of Fort William
Fort William, India
Fort William is a fort built in Calcutta on the Eastern banks of the River Hooghly, the major distributary of the River Ganges, during the early years of the Bengal Presidency of British India. It was named after King William III of England...
during the time of the Indian Mutiny
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
.
In a Royal Charter of 1826, Singapore, Malacca and Penang were combined to form the Straits Settlements. The Governor of the Settlements and his council were answerable to the Governor-General of India in Calcutta. The Governor had little formal power, but was able to influence the Calcutta authorities who relied largely on the recommendations of these representatives on legislation and policy in each settlement. Control passed from Bengal to the Colonial Office in London on 1 April 1967 and the Settlements became a crown colony. Cavenagh was the last Governor who reported to the Governor-General in Calcutta. His successor, Sir Harry Ord reported to the Colonial Office in London.
External links
- Cavenagh family fonds at University of Victoria, Special Collections