Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Governor’s Council of Madras signed by King Emperor Edward VII

A large parchment document, 25½ x 19 ins, in the form of a partly hand written warrant appointing Our Trusty and WellBeloved James Thomson Esquire, Member of Our Indian Civil Service to be a Member of the Council of Our Governor of the Presidency of Fort St George. It is signed at the head Edward R & I and beneath the date 17th June 1901 George Hamilton [Lord George Hamilton, G.C.S.I. 1845-1927, Secretary of State for India]. A very unusual document from the early months of the first King Emperor’s reign, before his coronation. There were at the time only two full Members of the Governor’s Council, all others being Additional Members for making Laws and Regulations. There are a few small holes, the only one affecting any text being the one just beneath the G of the final signature. The document is otherwise perfectly sound. There are signs of two old folds but the document has been rolled for a long time and will be shipped in a card tube.         dec22/1

Sir James Thomson, K.C.S.I. [1848-1927] held this post from 1901 to 1906 and was Acting Governor of Madras between April and December 1904. He was a Scot, educated at the Grammar School and University of Aberdeen, going out to India in 1871 serving first at Godavari becoming Collector & Magistrate there in 1885. From 1889 he was Resident to the rulers of Travancore and Cochin before occupying senior posts in the revenue and salt departments of government. As a member of council he was appointed C.S.I. in 1902 and in 1902 advanced to the honour of Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India.

A few other documents relating to his career and achievements will appear shortly on the website.