CleanupBot (talk | contribs) m →Personal life: clean up |
Enhanced and reorganized content |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date= | {{Short description|British merchant and colonial administrator (1698–1774)}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} | |||
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}} | {{Use British English|date=October 2014}} | ||
{{Infobox | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
| name = Richard Benyon | | name = Richard Benyon | ||
| image = | | image = | ||
| Line 23: | Line 24: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Richard Benyon''' (1698–1774) was a British merchant and colonial administrator who served as the [[President of Madras]] from 23 January 1735 to 14 January 1744. | '''Richard Benyon''' (1698–1774) was a British merchant and colonial administrator who served as the [[President of Madras]] from 23 January 1735 to 14 January 1744.<ref name="worldstatesmen">{{cite web|title=Provinces of British India|url=http://www.worldstatesmen.org/India_BrProvinces.htm|publisher=worldstatesmen}}</ref> | ||
== Early career == | == Early career == | ||
Benyon first arrived in [[Madras]] as a writer in 1710. | Benyon first arrived in [[Madras]] as a writer in 1710.<ref name="vestiges">{{cite book|title=Vestiges of Old Madras|volume=1|pages=271–335|first=H. D.|last=Love|publisher=John Murray|year=1913}}</ref> In 1718, he was nominated to the council of [[Fort St. George]] and served till 1725, when he resigned and returned to England.<ref name="vestiges" /> In 1732, he was nominated again as the second member of the council of Fort St. George.<ref name="vestiges" /> When [[George Morton Pitt]] resigned as President of Madras in 1735, Benyon, who was the most senior member in the council was appointed president in his stead.<ref name="vestiges" /> | ||
== President of Madras == | == President of Madras == | ||
Benyon is regarded as one of the best Presidents of early Madras. He was one of the few early governors who was not convicted of any charges. | Benyon is regarded as one of the best Presidents of early Madras. He was one of the few early governors who was not convicted of any charges.<ref name="vestiges" /> During Benyon's tenure, the city saw rapid expansion. The villages of [[Perambur]], [[Sadayankuppam]], [[Ernavore]], [[Pudupakkam]] and [[Vepery]] were acquired from the [[Nayak dynasty|Nayak]] of [[Poonamallee]] in 1739.<ref name="vestiges" /> | ||
The most important event of Benyon's tenure was the invasion of the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] who invaded [[South India]] twice, once in late 1740 and the second time, in May 1741. | The most important event of Benyon's tenure was the invasion of the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]] who invaded [[South India]] twice, once in late 1740 and the second time, in May 1741.<ref name="talboys">{{cite book | title=Madras in the Olden Time| volume=3| last=Talboys Wheeler| first=J.| year=1861| publisher=Higginbotham & Co.| location=Madras|pages=113–294}}</ref> During the second invasion, the Maratha army under [[Raghoji Bhonsle]] invaded [[Trichinopoly]], where the Carnatic general [[Chanda Sahib]] had set up his stronghold, while another occupied [[Fort St David]], [[Porto-Novo]] and [[Sadras]].<ref name="talboys" /> However, following the successful conquest of Trichinopoly and the capture of Chanda Sahib, the Maratha troops relinquished their conquests and quickly withdrew.<ref name="talboys" /> All through this period, Benyon tried to coerce the Maratha generals by sending them presents.<ref name="talboys" /> The fortifications of Madras were strengthened and all British, [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] and [[Armenian people|Armenian]] citizens of the city were forcibly [[conscripted]].<ref name="talboys" /> | ||
== Personal life== | == Personal life== | ||
Benyon married twice at Fort St George, firstly to Mary Fleetwwod, daughter of Edward Fleetwood and secondly to Frances Davis, the daughter of Richard Horden and widow of Sandys Davis. | Benyon married twice at Fort St George, firstly to Mary Fleetwwod, daughter of Edward Fleetwood and secondly to Frances Davis, the daughter of Richard Horden and widow of Sandys Davis.<ref name= VOM>{{cite book|title=Vestiges of Old Madras|first=H.D.|last= Love|page=273}}</ref> | ||
After his return to England, Benyon lived at [[Gidea Hall]] in [[Essex]] and [[Englefield House]] in [[Berkshire]] and married his third wife, | After his return to England, Benyon lived at [[Gidea Hall]] in [[Essex]] and [[Englefield House]] in [[Berkshire]] and married his third wife, Mary Tyssen, daughter of Rachel De Beauvoir and Francis Tyssen of Hackney, and the widow of Powlett Wright. He was the father with her of [[Richard Benyon (MP for Peterborough)|Richard Benyon]], the Peterborough MP, and grandfather of [[Richard Benyon De Beauvoir]], the philanthropist. | ||
He died in 1774. There is a monument to him in St Margaret's Church, Margaretting, Essex. | He died in 1774. There is a monument to him in St Margaret's Church, Margaretting, Essex.<ref name = VOM/> | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
{{reflist | {{reflist}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benyon, Richard}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Benyon, Richard}} | ||
[[Category:1698 births]] | [[Category:1698 births]] | ||
[[Category:1774 deaths]] | [[Category:1774 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:British merchants]] | [[Category:18th-century British merchants]] | ||
[[Category:Presidents of Madras]] | [[Category:Presidents of Madras]] | ||
[[Category:People from Englefield, Berkshire]] | [[Category:People from Englefield, Berkshire]] | ||
[[Category:People from Romford]] | [[Category:People from Romford]] | ||
[[Category:Benyon family]] | [[Category:Benyon family|Richard]] | ||
Revision as of 23:53, 12 February 2026
Richard Benyon | |
|---|---|
| President of Fort St George (Madras) | |
| In office 23 January 1735 – 14 January 1744 | |
| Preceded by | George Morton Pitt |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Morse |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1698 |
| Died | 1774 |
Richard Benyon (1698–1774) was a British merchant and colonial administrator who served as the President of Madras from 23 January 1735 to 14 January 1744.<ref name="worldstatesmen">"Provinces of British India". worldstatesmen.</ref>
Early career
Benyon first arrived in Madras as a writer in 1710.<ref name="vestiges">Love, H. D. (1913). Vestiges of Old Madras. Vol. 1. John Murray. pp. 271–335.</ref> In 1718, he was nominated to the council of Fort St. George and served till 1725, when he resigned and returned to England.<ref name="vestiges" /> In 1732, he was nominated again as the second member of the council of Fort St. George.<ref name="vestiges" /> When George Morton Pitt resigned as President of Madras in 1735, Benyon, who was the most senior member in the council was appointed president in his stead.<ref name="vestiges" />
President of Madras
Benyon is regarded as one of the best Presidents of early Madras. He was one of the few early governors who was not convicted of any charges.<ref name="vestiges" /> During Benyon's tenure, the city saw rapid expansion. The villages of Perambur, Sadayankuppam, Ernavore, Pudupakkam and Vepery were acquired from the Nayak of Poonamallee in 1739.<ref name="vestiges" />
The most important event of Benyon's tenure was the invasion of the Marathas who invaded South India twice, once in late 1740 and the second time, in May 1741.<ref name="talboys">Talboys Wheeler, J. (1861). Madras in the Olden Time. Vol. 3. Madras: Higginbotham & Co. pp. 113–294.</ref> During the second invasion, the Maratha army under Raghoji Bhonsle invaded Trichinopoly, where the Carnatic general Chanda Sahib had set up his stronghold, while another occupied Fort St David, Porto-Novo and Sadras.<ref name="talboys" /> However, following the successful conquest of Trichinopoly and the capture of Chanda Sahib, the Maratha troops relinquished their conquests and quickly withdrew.<ref name="talboys" /> All through this period, Benyon tried to coerce the Maratha generals by sending them presents.<ref name="talboys" /> The fortifications of Madras were strengthened and all British, Portuguese and Armenian citizens of the city were forcibly conscripted.<ref name="talboys" />
Personal life
Benyon married twice at Fort St George, firstly to Mary Fleetwwod, daughter of Edward Fleetwood and secondly to Frances Davis, the daughter of Richard Horden and widow of Sandys Davis.<ref name= VOM>Love, H.D. Vestiges of Old Madras. p. 273.</ref>
After his return to England, Benyon lived at Gidea Hall in Essex and Englefield House in Berkshire and married his third wife, Mary Tyssen, daughter of Rachel De Beauvoir and Francis Tyssen of Hackney, and the widow of Powlett Wright. He was the father with her of Richard Benyon, the Peterborough MP, and grandfather of Richard Benyon De Beauvoir, the philanthropist.
He died in 1774. There is a monument to him in St Margaret's Church, Margaretting, Essex.<ref name = VOM/>