Jump to content

Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cleveland, Augustus

From Wikisource
1169851Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 11 — Cleveland, Augustus1887Henry Morse Stephens

CLEVELAND, AUGUSTUS (1766–1784), Bengal civilian, is said to have been a cousin of Sir John Shore, first lord Teignmouth and governor-general of India (Life of Lord Teignmouth) by his Son, i. 88), and seems to have been an Indian administrator of exceptional ability. He was collector and magistrate of Boglipoor, and died in his twenty-ninth year from his exertions in civilising the mountain tribes in his district and preventing them from fighting the inhabitants of the plains. Though he died so young, he had made his mark; Warren Hastings erected a monument to him at Calcutta, and the natives of his district one in their midst; John Shore wrote a remarkable monody on his early death (Life of Lord Teignmouth, i. 489-494), and Bishop Heber, who did not reach Calcutta until many years afterwards, found his memory still treasured in the province which he had ruled. One of his most judicious steps was to raise a corps of sepoys out of the wildest of the mountaineers, and to make the greatest freebooter their captain; and by giving them regular employment he saved the lowlands from their incursions. Bishop Heber found the monument at Boglipoor in good preservation, and relates that it was the custom of the natives to assemble there and hold a 'poojah' or religious festival in his honour; and Lord Hastings re-established the school which he had founded and revived his corps of mountaineers.

[Life of Lord Teignmouth, by his Son; Heber's Indian Journal.]