Commission, 1902–3: retired in 1903: C.S.I, in 1903: Knight Bachelor in 1904.
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.
CANNING, CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH, COUNTESS (1817–1861)
Daughter of Lord Stuart de Rothesay; born March 31, 1817, married, Sep. 5, 1835: in London to the Hon. Charles John Canning, afterwards Earl Canning, (q.v.), first Viceroy of India. She was constantly at Court as Lady-in-Waiting in attendance on Queen Victoria. Her death at Calcutta, Nov. 18, 1861, was deeply lamented. She returned to Calcutta on Nov. 8, after a month's visit to Darjeeling. She had caught jungle fever on her way down, when passing through the malarious country at the foot of the hills and in the Purnea district. She was buried in Barrackpur Park, on the banks of the Ganges. All accounts testify to her noble, simple and beautiful character, her talents and mental gifts, her personal appearance, her graciousness and dignity: in the trying time of the mutiny she rendered great help to her husband by her devotion, loyalty and self-sacrifice, by her calm and steady courage, her patience and self-possession, "no one was ever more admired and looked up to by every class of her Majesty's subjects." Lord Canning wrote this inscription for the monument over her grave: "Honours and praises written on a tomb are at best but vainglory: but that her charity, humility, meekness and watchful faith in her Saviour will, for that Saviour's sake, be accepted of God and be to her a glory everlasting, is the firm trust of those who knew her best and most dearly loved her in life, and who cherish the memory of her, departed."
CANNING, GEORGE (1770–1827)
Son of George Canning: born April 11, 1770: educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford: M.P. for Newport, 1794: for
