Thomas Greenhill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Greenhill
Agent of Fort St George (Madras)
In office
1644, 1652 – 1648, 1655
Preceded by Thomas Ivie, Aaron Baker
Succeeded by Aaron Baker, Thomas Chambers
Born c. 1611 or 1612
Died 4 January 1658
Children None


Thomas Greenhill (1611/12-January 4, 1658[1]) was one of the early pioneers of the British East India Company and the Agent of Madras for two terms from 1648 to 1652 and 1655 to 1658.

Contents

[edit] Early Life

Greenhill arrived in India in 1632 to serve in the Company's Masulipatnam factory. During the agency of Thomas Ivie, Greenhill was sent on a mission to the Raja of Chandragiri which resulted in the issue of a new grant in October/November 1645. By this grant, the Raja confirmed an older grant and ceded the village of Narikamedu to the Company.


[edit] Tenure as Agent of Madras

Madras was in the grips of a famine (the first famine since the start of British rule in Madras) when Greenhill became Agent in 1648[2]. In September 1648, Greenhill arranged for rice to shipped aboard the ship Blessing from Persia. These fears were , however, short-lived as Madras had completely recovered from the famine by April 1649[2].


Greenhill's tenure as Agent of Madras was marked by a shocking scandal. One Mr.Thomas and Ms.Elizabeth Bland levied a charge against Greenhill that the Agent had fathered an illegitimate offspring through Elizabeth whom he had compelled to undergo an abortion in the fifth month of her pregnancy. These charges caused great trouble to the Agent and his reputation. However, later, during the course of a trial, Elizabeth admitted that the accusation was forged by her in order to profit by the criminal case against Greenhill.

[edit] Death

Greenhill died in Madras of excessive drinking on January 4, 1658[1]. His is the oldest British tombstone yet discovered in Madras city[1].


[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Agent on the steps, The Hindu: Metro Plus, March 3, 2008
  2. ^ a b Madras Tercenternary Celebration Committee Commemoration VolumeBy Tercentenary Madras Staff, Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee, Madras Tercentenary Celebration Committee, Published 1994, Asian Educational Services
Preceded by
Thomas Ivie		 Agent of Madras
1648–1652		 Succeeded by
Aaron Baker
President
Preceded by
Aaron Baker
President
 Agent of Madras
1655–1658		 Succeeded by
Thomas Chambers