Edward Winter (English administrator)

Sir Edward Winter (1622–1686) was the eighth administrator of Madras and was Agent from 1661 to August 1665 and from September 1665 to 22 May 1668. During his tenure, he got a permanent agreement regarding the English rights over Madras. However, soon he aroused the ire of the Factors by allegedly adopting a threatening attitude against the Sultan of Golconda in response to the extravagant duties imposed by the former. He complained about the irregularity of the duties to a Naik of the Sultan of Golconda who responded by saying that "when the English horns and teeth grew, then he would free them from their duties". Soon afterwards, Winter was accused of private trade by the Factors of the Company who referred the matter to the Directors of the East India Company. Winter offered to vacate his seat, supremely confident that the Directors would not accept his resignation. However, unfortunately for him, his resignation was accepted and George Foxcraft was appointed as the Agent in his place.

Foxcraft was the opposite of Winter in character and personality. While Winter was a man of good integrity, Foxcraft was not. Ultimately, disputes broke out between the two, and three months later, Winter attacked Foxcraft, his son and one Mr. Sambroke. Focxcraft and Sambroke were arrested and kept in confinement for sedition. Winter assumed command of the garrison at Fort St George and wrote to the king of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury explaining his action as a measure against the Puritanical and anti-Royalist activities of Foxcraft. Foxcraft, meanwhile, appealed to the Agent of Masulipatnam and the President of Surat, as well as the Sultan of Golconda for help. The authorities at Masulipatnam and Surat as well as the Directors of the Company remonstrated with Winter but nothing came out of it. The Directors came to the conclusion that Winter had sided with the Dutch and when peace was concluded with the Dutch as per the Treaty of Breda on 10 May 1668, threats were issued for a British invasion of Fort St.George and the adjoining Portuguese town of St.Thome. However, Edward Winter was adamant under the assumption that the King of England supported him. On 21 May 1668 two ships belonging to the Company arrived at Madras and arrested two members of the Council of Fort St George whom Winter had sent to negotiate with the Company troops. Winter was issued an ultimatum in the name of the King of England and he surrendered and George Foxcraft was reinstated. However, within a year of the reinstatement, Foxcraft as well as Winter were asked to leave for England. George Foxcraft, who was the first to be given the title 'Governor of Fort St.George'.

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References

1. Madras in the Olden Time by J.Talboys Wheeler, 1861.