Madras in the first quarter of the 19th Century (1803-1827)

History of the City of Madras

Chapter – 15

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Harshit Sharma

Alumnus (BHU)

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  • Lord William Bentinck, Governor from 1803 to 1807, was an amiable but troubled nobleman.
  • His rule saw the mutiny of the sepoys at Vellore in 1806, which was difficult to suppress, with Colonel Gillespie playing a key role in saving lives.
  • There was also a quarrel between the Government and a Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature established in 1801.
  • The Recorder’s Court replaced the old Mayor’s Court, leading to friction between Mr. Abbott (ex-Mayor) and the Recorder, Thomas Strange.
  • Abbott and Roebuck tried to manipulate the Aldermen to capture the Recorder’s Court and establish an extravagant fee system.
  • Strange objected to the involvement of corrupt Aldermen Judges, which led to the superseding of the Recorder’s Court by a Supreme Court with a Chief Justice and two Puisne Judges.
  • Sir Thomas Strange became the first Chief Justice of the new Supreme Court, with Benjamin Sulivan and Sir Henry Gwillim as Puisne Judges.
  • Justice Gwillim had a violent and offensive style of correspondence and frequently clashed with Sir Thomas Strange.
  • During Strange’s absence in England (1805-6)Gwillim quarreled with the Governor and Senior Member of CouncilMr. Petrie.

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