Stephen Popham - Revision history

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	{{For\|Stephen Popham (English MP, died 1444)\|Stephen Popham (English MP)}}		{{For\|Stephen Popham (English MP, died 1444)\|Stephen Popham (English MP)}}
	{{Infobox ~~Officeholder~~		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2022}}
			{{Infobox officeholder
	\| constituency_MP1 = [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)\|Castlebar]]		\| constituency_MP1 = [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)\|Castlebar]]
	\| term_start1 = 1776		\| term_start1 = 1776
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	== Early life ==		== Early life ==

	Popham was born on 5 July 1745,<ref name="leighrayment">{{cite web\|title=Irish House of Commons, 1692-1800\|url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022535/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm~~\|url-status=unfit~~\|archive-date=June 7, 2008\|publisher=Leigh Rayment}}</ref> the fourth son of Joseph Popham of [[Gibraltar]] and Mary Riggs.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754">{{cite book\|title=The record of old Westminsters: a biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster school from the earliest times to 1927, Volume 2\|page=754\|publisher=Chiswick press\|year=1928}}</ref> Popham's younger brother was the British naval officer Admiral [[Sir Home Riggs Popham]].<ref name="theindependent_19980606">{{cite news\|title=Popham - The Improver\|work=[[The Independent]]\|first=Peter\|last=Popham\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/popham-the-improver-1163210.html\|date=6 June 1998}}</ref> He had his education at King's School and matriculated from [[Trinity College, Cambridge]] in 1764.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> He graduated as 4th Wrangler in 1767 and obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1774.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> Popham was admitted to the [[Middle Temple]] on 14 April 1762.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" />		Popham was born on 5 July 1745,<ref name="leighrayment">{{cite web\|title=Irish House of Commons, 1692-1800\|url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022535/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm\|archive-date=June 7, 2008\|url-status=usurped\|publisher=Leigh Rayment}}</ref> the fourth son of Joseph Popham of [[Gibraltar]] and Mary Riggs.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754">{{cite book\|title=The record of old Westminsters: a biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster school from the earliest times to 1927, Volume 2\|page=754\|publisher=Chiswick press\|year=1928}}</ref> Popham's younger brother was the British naval officer Admiral [[Sir Home Riggs Popham]].<ref name="theindependent_19980606">{{cite news\|title=Popham - The Improver\|work=[[The Independent]]\|first=Peter\|last=Popham\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/popham-the-improver-1163210.html \|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/popham-the-improver-1163210.html \|archive-date=25 May 2022 \|url-access=subscription \|url-status=live\|date=6 June 1998}}</ref> He had his education at King's School and matriculated from [[Trinity College, Cambridge]] in 1764.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> He graduated as 4th Wrangler in 1767 and obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1774.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> Popham was admitted to the [[Middle Temple]] on 14 April 1762.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" />

	Popham entered politics in 1776 and was elected to the [[Irish House of Commons]] in June 1776 as MP for [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)\|Castlebar]].<ref name="leighrayment" /> Popham and was succeeded as MP by [[James Browne (died 1790)\|James Browne]].		Popham entered politics in 1776 and was elected to the [[Irish House of Commons]] in June 1776 as MP for [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)\|Castlebar]].<ref name="leighrayment" /> Popham and was succeeded as MP by [[James Browne (died 1790)\|James Browne]].
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	==Pophams Broadway, Madras==		==Pophams Broadway, Madras==
	The [[Broadway, Chennai\|Pophams Broadway]] at [[Madras]] was once a fine road bisecting [[George Town, Chennai\|George Town]] into Peddanaickenpet and Muthialpet. Before, it was a road, it was a ditch in the suburb called Atta Pallam, and was owned by Stephen Popham, former MP of the [[British Parliament]] and later [[Advocate General]] at [[Calcutta]], who moved to [[Madras]] in 1778. Popham is credited with setting up the [[Madras Police]] in 1782. At that time, the lands of the present [[Madras United Club]], [[Government General Hospital, Chennai\|General Hospital]] and [[Park Town, Chennai\|Park Town]] Post Office was a hill called Hoggs Hill (called as Narimedu or 'mound of foxes' by the natives). Hoggs Hill was considered to be a security threat to the [[Fort St. George]] and a decision was taken to level the hill. Popham's negotiated with the [[Government of Tamil Nadu\|Government of Madras]] to use the earth removed from Hoggs Hill to fill up the ditch. The road which came through after filling the ditch came to be known as Popham's Broadway.<ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite news\|last1=Sriram\|first1=V\|title=History behind the broadway\|url=~~http~~://indiatoday~~.intoday~~.in/story/~~History+~~behind+the+broadway~~/1/4385.html~~\|~~accessdate~~=2 December 2015\|agency=India Today\|date=18 February 2008}}</ref>		The [[Broadway, Chennai\|Pophams Broadway]] at [[Madras]] was once a fine road bisecting [[George Town, Chennai\|George Town]] into Peddanaickenpet and Muthialpet. Before, it was a road, it was a ditch in the suburb called Atta Pallam, and was owned by Stephen Popham, former MP of the [[British Parliament]] and later [[Advocate General]] at [[Calcutta]], who moved to [[Madras]] in 1778. Popham is credited with setting up the [[Madras Police]] in 1782. At that time, the lands of the present [[Madras United Club]], [[Government General Hospital, Chennai\|General Hospital]] and [[Park Town, Chennai\|Park Town]] Post Office was a hill called Hoggs Hill (called as Narimedu or 'mound of foxes' by the natives). Hoggs Hill was considered to be a security threat to the [[Fort St. George]] and a decision was taken to level the hill. Popham's negotiated with the [[Government of Tamil Nadu\|Government of Madras]] to use the earth removed from Hoggs Hill to fill up the ditch. The road which came through after filling the ditch came to be known as Popham's Broadway.<ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite news\|last1=Sriram\|first1=V\|title=History behind the broadway\|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20080218-history-behind-the-broadway-735369-2008-02-08\|access-date=2 December 2015\|agency=India Today\|date=18 February 2008}}</ref>

	== Death ==		== Death ==
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	}}		}}
	{{s-end}}		{{s-end}}



	{{DEFAULTSORT:Popham, Stephen}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Popham, Stephen}}
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	[[Category:Members of the Middle Temple]]		[[Category:Members of the Middle Temple]]
	[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Mayo constituencies]]		[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Mayo constituencies]]
			[[Category:People from the Bengal Presidency]]

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{{For|Stephen Popham (English MP, died 1444)|Stephen Popham (English MP)}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| constituency_MP1 = [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Castlebar]]
| term_start1 = 1776
| term_end1 = ?
| predecessor1 = John William Hamilton
| successor1 = [[James Browne (died 1790)|James Browne]]
| monarch1 = [[George III of the United Kingdom]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1745|07|05|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[United Kingdom]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1795|06|13|1745|07|05|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Conjeevaram]], [[Madras Presidency]]
| nationality = British
| party =
| alma_mater = [[Trinity College, Cambridge]]
| profession = Lawyer
| occupation = Solicitor, politician, civic activist
| spouse =
}}

'''Stephen Popham''' (5 July 1745 – 13 June 1795) was a British politician and solicitor who is remembered for improving the residential locality of [[Georgetown, Chennai|Georgetown]] in the city of [[Chennai]], [[India]] and reforming the civic and police administration.

== Early life ==

Popham was born on 5 July 1745,<ref name="leighrayment">{{cite web|title=Irish House of Commons, 1692-1800|url=http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607022535/http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/irelandcommons.htm|url-status=unfit|archive-date=June 7, 2008|publisher=Leigh Rayment}}</ref> the fourth son of Joseph Popham of [[Gibraltar]] and Mary Riggs.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754">{{cite book|title=The record of old Westminsters: a biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster school from the earliest times to 1927, Volume 2|page=754|publisher=Chiswick press|year=1928}}</ref> Popham's younger brother was the British naval officer Admiral [[Sir Home Riggs Popham]].<ref name="theindependent_19980606">{{cite news|title=Popham - The Improver|work=[[The Independent]]|first=Peter|last=Popham|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/popham-the-improver-1163210.html|date=6 June 1998}}</ref> He had his education at King's School and matriculated from [[Trinity College, Cambridge]] in 1764.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> He graduated as 4th Wrangler in 1767 and obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1774.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" /> Popham was admitted to the [[Middle Temple]] on 14 April 1762.<ref name="westminsterschoolp754" />

Popham entered politics in 1776 and was elected to the [[Irish House of Commons]] in June 1776 as MP for [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Castlebar]].<ref name="leighrayment" /> Popham and was succeeded as MP by [[James Browne (died 1790)|James Browne]].

== In India ==

Popham's fortunes began to decline in the late 1770s and he faced a financial crisis.<ref name="theindependent_19980606" /> He arrived in India about this time and was worked in [[Calcutta]] as Secretary to Sir John Day, the [[Advocate-General]] of [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal]].<ref name="theindependent_19980606" /> In 1778, he travelled along with Day to the city of Madras for an official inquiry. At Madras, a violent argument broke out between Day and Popham forcing the two to break up. Popham stayed on in Madras and purchased a plot in [[Georgetown, Chennai|Blacktown]] and settled down in the city.<ref name="theindependent_19980606" />

Popham purchased the adjacent plot and constructed a drainage channel in the area. He then constructed a wide thoroughfare through Blacktown. The road was named "Popham's Broadway" and presently, it is known simply as [[Broadway, Chennai|Broadway]]. Popham was critical of the power and influence of the ''dubashes''<ref name="belowp41">{{cite book|title=The view from below: indigenous society, temples, and the early colonial state in Tamilnadu, 1700-1835|first=Kanakalatha|last=Mukund|page=41|publisher=Orient Blackswan|year=2005|isbn=978-81-250-2800-0}}</ref>

Popham recommended the construction of direct and cross drains in every street, the lighting of streets, registration of births and deaths and licensing of liquor shops and outlets.<ref name="srinivasachari">{{cite book | title=History of the city of Madras written for the Tercentenary Celebration Committee| first=C. S.|last=Srinivasachari| year=1939| pages=189–191| chapter=Governor Pigot and his immediate successors (1775-1803)|publisher=P. Varadachary & Co.|place=Madras}}</ref> In 1782, Popham submitted a plan for the creation of a regular police force in Madras city.<ref name="srinivasachari" />

==Pophams Broadway, Madras==
The [[Broadway, Chennai|Pophams Broadway]] at [[Madras]] was once a fine road bisecting [[George Town, Chennai|George Town]] into Peddanaickenpet and Muthialpet. Before, it was a road, it was a ditch in the suburb called Atta Pallam, and was owned by Stephen Popham, former MP of the [[British Parliament]] and later [[Advocate General]] at [[Calcutta]], who moved to [[Madras]] in 1778. Popham is credited with setting up the [[Madras Police]] in 1782. At that time, the lands of the present [[Madras United Club]], [[Government General Hospital, Chennai|General Hospital]] and [[Park Town, Chennai|Park Town]] Post Office was a hill called Hoggs Hill (called as Narimedu or 'mound of foxes' by the natives). Hoggs Hill was considered to be a security threat to the [[Fort St. George]] and a decision was taken to level the hill. Popham's negotiated with the [[Government of Tamil Nadu|Government of Madras]] to use the earth removed from Hoggs Hill to fill up the ditch. The road which came through after filling the ditch came to be known as Popham's Broadway.<ref name=IndiaToday>{{cite news|last1=Sriram|first1=V|title=History behind the broadway|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/History+behind+the+broadway/1/4385.html|accessdate=2 December 2015|agency=India Today|date=18 February 2008}}</ref>

== Death ==

Popham died in [[Conjeevaram]] on 13 June 1795 as a result of injuries suffered during a fall from his [[curricle]].<ref name="twomonsoonsp194">{{cite book|title=Two monsoons|url=https://archive.org/details/twomonsoons0000wilk|url-access=registration|first=Theon|last=Wilkinson|publisher=Duckworth|year=1976|isbn=978-0-7156-1015-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/twomonsoons0000wilk/page/194 194]}}</ref>

== Notes ==

{{reflist|2}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|ie}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Edward Kirwan (Irish politician)|Edward Kirwan]]
| before2 = [[John William Hamilton (Irish politician)|John William Hamilton]]
}}
{{s-title
| title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Castlebar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)|Castlebar]]
| years = 1776 – 1783
| with = [[Thomas Coghlan]]
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Thomas Warren (politician)|Thomas Warren]]
| after2 = [[James Browne (died 1790)|James Browne]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Popham, Stephen}}
[[Category:1745 births]]
[[Category:1795 deaths]]
[[Category:Irish MPs 1776–1783]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Members of the Middle Temple]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Mayo constituencies]]