Star of India. Grant of K.C.S.I. to the Acting Governor of Madras signed by the King Emperor Edward VI, 1904

 The document, on two sides of a bifolium appoints James Thomson Esquire, Companion of Our said Most Exalted Order, a Member of the Council of the Governor of Madras and Acting Governor of Madras… to be a Knight Commander or our  said Most Exalted Order of the Star of India dated 2nd September 1904. The document is printed in fine palace script with manuscript insertions and is signed at the bottom St. John Brodrick [ Hon. William St.John Fremantle Brodrick was Secretary of State for India and later 1st Earl of Midleton]. At the top it is signed Edward R & I , the King Emperor Edward VII. Documents for India personally signed by the King Emperor are scarce, apart from those on military and naval commissions.        feb28’2

Sir James Thomson, K.C.S.I. [1848-1927]. a member of the Governor’s Council at Fort St George [Madras], is recorded as being Acting Governor of Madras between April and December 1905 although this document re-dates that. 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 1904 advanced to the honour of Knight Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India.