Dictionary of Indian Biography/Canning, Charles John, Earl
CANNING, CHARLES JOHN, EARL (1812–1862)
Governor-General and first Viceroy: third son of George Canning the statesman: born Dec. 14, 1812: educated at Putney, Eton, privately, and at Christ Church, Oxford: first class in classics and second class in mathematics: M.P. for Warwick in 1836: succeeded to his mother's peerage in 1837: Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 1841–6, and Chief Commissioner for Woods and Forests: was a follower of Sir Robert Peel: Postmaster-General in Lord Aberdeen's and Lord Palmerston's Governments in 1853–5: Governor-General of India, Feb. 29, 1856: Viceroy from Nov. 1, 1858. In his first year of office he had to arrange for the war with Persia, in which Sir James Outram (q.v.) had the command. The events of the mutiny of 1857–8 constitute the history of India rather than the biography of Canning. Its causes originated before his time. He was not alone in failing at first to appreciate adequately the symptoms and the extent of the out-break: but, on grasping its character, he rose to the occasion. He detained troops on their way to China, and expedited the dispatch of reinforcements to the affected districts of Upper India. He showed calmness, courage, judgment, firmness, foresight, and acquired the name of "Clemency Canning" for his moderation in punishment, and his repression of vindictiveness. He became unpopular on account of this policy. He trusted his chief officers, Sir Henry, and Sir John, Lawrence, his commanders in the field, his immediate advisers and others: but preserved his own right to decide, when he disagreed with them. For a time he assumed personally the government of the N.W.P. By his Oudh proclamation he confiscated, with exceptions, the land of that province. This led to the controversy which ended in the resignation of Lord Ellenborough, the President of the Board of Control. He carried out the transfer on Nov. I, 1858, of the Government of India from the E. I. Co. to the Crown: and was made an Earl. In 1859–60 and 1860–1 he made prolonged tours in Upper India. He had to deal with all the troubles resulting from the mutiny, the reorganization of the finances and of the Army required for India: the reforms in the Indian Councils, the development of education, the question of the income-tax, the grant of adoption sunnuds to native chiefs, with the famine of 1860–1 in the N.W.P. The death of Lady Canning from fever, in Nov. 1861, was universally deplored. He left India on March 18, 1862, in bad health: died June 17, 1862, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He had been made K.G. for his services in India.