Lord Amherst (1823-28)

Introduction #

Between 1823 and 1828, Lord Amherst presided as the governor-general of India. From 1758 until 1763, he worked as the British commander in America.  He was already well-known for his voyage to China in 1816 and was regarded as a man of peace, the Board of Directors authorised his nomination. He had the notion that India would experience peace and that no wars would be necessary before gaining government. However, unrest along East Bengal’s borders quickly broke out, and this problem dominated his presidency. 

Important Events During Amherst Tenure #

The first Burmese War (1824), which resulted in the cession of Arakan and Tenasserim to the British Empire, was sparked by the annexation of Assam.

First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26) #

In 1765–1769, the Burmese emperors attempted to acquire Siam as part of an expansionist programme. Siam requested assistance from China, which prevented the rulers of Burma from enlarging that region.

• He declared war on Burma after the British sought to prevent a conflict and submitted some friendly suggestions. 
• Both naval and land attacks were made against Burma. The British won the war handily, despite its length. 
• The Treaty of Yandaboo(1826) put an end to the conflict. 
• Later, in 1832, the annexation of Cachar Kingdom, and in 1833, British protection was extended to Upper Assam. 
• By 1838–1839, the British had seized all of what is now Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram. 
• The immediate result of Assam’s acquisition by the British was a boom in the tea industry. 

Barrackpore Mutiny (1824) #

Indian societal taboos were also affected by British meddling during the mutiny of 1824. 

• In First Anglo-Burmese War, the Bengal Army’s native infantry battalions received orders to march towards Chittagong and board the ships to reach Rangoon. However, Hindus, who termed it Kaala Pani, considered water travel to be a social taboo. 
• The objections of the Indian sepoys went unheard. The soldiers consequently baulked at departing on March unless their pay was doubled and they were provided with luggage- transporting gear.
• In the Barrakpore cantonment, the sepoys revolted when the British refused to agree to their demands. They under the leadership of Binda expelled the British officers.
• Despite being a hero, very few people today are aware of Binda’s martyrdom. There is a temple called Binda Baba Temple in Barrackpur that is located where his body was hung. 

Conclusion #

After Lord Amherst left India in 1828, William Butterworth Bayley filled in as acting governor-general. Lord William Bentinck, who served from 1828 to 1835, took his place as his successor. In 1857, Amherst passed away on March 13. The ruler of Bengal demanded that he cede all of eastern Bengal when he arrived in India. That demand sparked the First Burmese War, which Amherst ended by annexing the jungle coastal stretches of Arakan and Tenasserim (both in modern Myanmar [Burma]) and Assam (a state of contemporary India) in 1826. In 1826, he was made an earl.

Amherst FAQs #

Q1. When did Lord Amherst make war on the king of Burma?

Ans. Burmese troops attacked Assam in 1817–1819 after taking territory near modern-day Manipur in Arakan in 1813. War was declared on Burma by Lord Amherst. Both on land and at sea, Burma came under attack. The Treaty of Yandaboo put an end to the conflict in 1826.

Q2. Who took over for Lord Amherst?

Ans. Acting Governor-General William Butterworth Bayley temporarily occupied Lord Amherst’s position after he left India in 1828. He was followed by Lord William Bentinck, who served from 1828 to 1835. On March 13, 1857, Amherst passed away.