Dictionary of Indian Biography/Curzon of Kedleston, George Nathaniel, first Baron
CURZON OF KEDLESTON, GEORGE NATHANIEL, FIRST BARON (1859–)
Viceroy and Governor-General : born Jan. II, 1859, son of Rev. fourth Baron Scarsdale : educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford : President of the Union Society, 1880 : Fellow of All Souls' College, 1883 : gained the Arnold Essay Prize, 1884 : Assistant Private Secretary to the Marquis of Salisbury, 1885 : Under Secretary of State for India, 1891–2 : for Foreign Affairs, 1895–8 : travelled in Central Asia, Persia, Afghanistan, the Pamirs, Siam, Indo-China, the Korea : M.P. for Southport Division, 1886–98 : published Russia in Central Asia, 1889 : Persia and the Persian Question, 1892 : Problems of the Far East, 1894 : Viceroy and Governor-General of India from Jan. 6, 1899, to April, 1904 : paid much attention to the control and defence of the frontiers of India, changing the policy on the N.W. frontier : created a Chief Commissionership of the Trans-Indus districts : enforced the blockade of Waziristan : showed distrust of Russian objects and Russian methods : visited the Persian gulf, with a view to prevention of any enroachment on British interest, to increase trade and maintain sphere of influence in Persia : despatched Tibet mission to carry out Anglo-Chinese convention of 1890 and trade regulations of 1893, and check Russian influence in Tibet : the mission leading to war with Tibet and the treaty of Lhasa, Sep. 1904 : examined into every branch of the administration, to introduce improvements : "it has not always been a popular policy" : appointed several Commissions, on the Universities, to reform Higher Education, on Irrigation, on the Police : had to deal with a famine in Bombay : aimed at improving relations with the native Chiefs, and the character of their rule : reformed the four Chiefs' colleges : founded the Imperial Cadet Corps : settled the question of the Berars : set on foot the Victoria Memorial Hall, obtaining large subscriptions from wealthy natives : held the Delhi Coronation Darbar of Dec. 1902– Jan. 1903 : reduced Lower Bengal by three Divisions, adding them to Assam to make a new Lieutenant-Governorship : had large financial surpluses, twice reduced the Salt Tax, and removed the Income Tax on the lowest incomes : passed some important legislative measures, such as the Universities Act, the Oflicial Secrets Act, the Indian Mines Act, the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, the Co-operative Credit Societies' Act : G.M.S.I., G.M.I.E., P.C, F.R.S., J.P., D.C.L. : re-appointed Viceroy and Governor-General in 1904 : returned to India, Dec. 1904 : Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, 1903–4 : in Aug., 1905, resigned the Viceroyalty on a point arising out of an adverse decision of the Cabinet on a difference of opinion between the C. in C. (Lord Kitchener) and the rest of the Government of India regarding military affairs in India.