LAWRENCE, HENRY M

Sir Henry M. Lawrence (28.6.1806 – 4.7.1857) was born at Matura (Sri Lanka). In 1823, he joined the Bengal Artillery. On January 14, 1839, George Clerk, the British Political Agent, appointed him as his deputy Political Agent. He was stationed first at Firozpur and then at Peshawar and Jallalabad (Afghanistan). In 1843, Bhai Udey Singh of Kaithal died issue-less. He was appointed as the Administrator of Kaithal. On December 1, 1843 he became the British Resident in Nepal. During Anglo-Sikh wars he was recalled to the Punjab. He supervised all the battles. In 1846 Major Broadfoot, the Agent of Governor General died. Henry Lawrence succeeded Broadfoot. It was he who expelled Misr Lal Sinh and Rani Jindan from the Punjab in 1847. On February 1, 1849, he became the British Resident at Lahore. On April 14, 1849, he became the Chairman of Administration Board of Lahore. He was opposed to the annexation of the Punjab. Due to his differences with Lord Dahousie, on this issue, he resigned his job in 1853. After this, he was appointed as A.G.G. for Rajasthan. On March 14, 1857, he was appointed as Chief Commissioner of Oudh. He was an aggressive person. In 1857, during the mutiny, he was the in charge of Lucknow, where he was killed during this uprising.

(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)