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 Dictionary of Indian Biography (Buckland) |
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 Dictionary of Indian Biography D to F
| Date transcribed | 2011-03-01 | | Transcribed by | Peter Bailey | | Comment | Note that notables of Indian, Afghan, etc. origin do not always follow the alphabetical name pattern established by Buckland in his original work. |
| | Surname | Francis | | | First Name(s) | Philip | | | Titles | Sir | | | Year of Birth | 1740 | | | Year of Death | 1818 | | | Entry | Son of the Rev. Philip Francis : born Oct. 22, 1740 : educated at Dublin and St. Paul's School : became a junior clerk in the Secretary of State's office : Secretary to General E. Bligh and at the capture of Cherbourg in 1758 : Secretary to Lord Kinnoull's Embassy at Lisbon, 1760 : amanuensis to Pitt, 176 1-2 : clerk at the War Office, 1762 : resigned in March, 1772, for some unexplained reason. During those years, ""Junius' letters"" appeared, which for many grounds have been attributed to Francis. Their identity, first suggested by Taylor in 1813, 1 816, may be considered to have been established. After the passing of the Regulating Act of 1773 for India, Francis was appointed a member of the new Supreme Council in India. He and his colleagues, Clavering and Monson, arrived at Calcutta on Oct. 19, 1774 : these three opposed Warren Hastings, the Governor- General, and Barwell {q.v.), the remaining Member of the Supreme Council : being a majority, they had great power. Francis took the side of Nuncomar (q.v.), after the latter had accused Hastings of corruption. Nuncomar was hanged for forgery on Aug. 5, 1775. The death of Monson, on Sep. 25, 1776 gave Hastings the casting vote. Barwell left India in March, 1780 : Francis resumed his opposition to Hastings, who wrote a minute accusing Francis of faithlessness and breach of trust and honour. Francis challenged him, and a duel took place on Aug. 17, 1780, in which Francis was badly wounded. He left India in Dec. 1780. In 1778 Francis was defendant in a crim. con. charge brought against him by G. F. Grand of the Indian Civil Service. Francis was sentenced by Impey to pay 50,000 rupees damages. He retired with a large fortune, but was very coldly received in England, except at Court. He became M.P. for Yarmouth, 1784 : assisted Burke in preparing the charges against Hastings, but was not accepted as a manager of the impeachment. accepted as a manager of the impeachment. M.P. for Bletchingley, 1790; for Appleby, 1802 : K.C.B. in Oct. 1806 : made an elaborate speech on India in April, 1805 : he hoped to be Governor- General of India, but failed to obtain it from Fox, with whom he quarrelled : he died Dec. 22, 1818. It is said that he made many anonymous contributions to the Press : his capacity, industry, courage, and certain good principles in his character have to be set against his malignity, vindictiveness, and unscrupulous conduct : his life and eareer have been minutely investigated. |
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A List of eminent persons who served in British India, together with short biographical notes of each
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