Tenure as Agent of Madras Sir William Langhorne, 1st Baronet

1 tenure agent of madras

1.1 french siege of st thome
1.2 payment of tribute
1.3 hostilities golconda
1.4 religious tolerance
1.5 charges of private trade , recall

tenure agent of madras

langhorne arrived in madras in 1670 adjudicate in dispute between sir edward winter , george foxcroft. few months later, appointed agent of madras based @ fort st. george.

french siege of st thome

in 1670, england under charles ii withdrew triple alliance , concluded peace french. hostilities broke out british taking side of french against dutch thereby triggering third anglo-dutch war.

hostilities triggered on coromandel coast when french fleet of twelve ships of newly established french east india company commanded admiral de la haye landed 3 hundred men along coast of st thome , besieged town under sovereignty of golconda. in july 1672, st thome stormed compelling sultan of golconda approach british east india company (eic) @ madraspatnam. factors @ madras, protestants dutch, secretly nourished pro-dutch , anti-french sympathies. alliance british had french in europe landed them in dilemma. william langhorne, agent of madras, despite hatred of french, chose remain inactive.

in meantime, dutch fleet under rickloff van goens, governor-general of dutch india, laid siege st thome unsuccessful. engagement took place between dutch fleet of fourteen ships , british fleet of ten ships on 22 august 1673 in 3 ships belonging eic sunk.

the french @ st thome expected british them against dutch disheartened. strengthened fortifications @ st thome , established new camp @ triplicane thereby posing direct threat british settlement @ madras. british held consultation on 2 february 1674, before authorities come conclusion of proposed course of action, news of treaty of westminster concluded between england , holland reached fort st george thereby bringing hostilities end. french @ st thome surrendered dutch on 16 august 1674 in turn handed on city authorities of sultan of golconda thereby bringing hostilities end. triplicane liberated in 1672 , made on british east india company @ annual rent of 50 pagodas.

payment of tribute

despite official existence independent entity, agency of madras paid tribute of 1200 pagodas neiknam khan, commander-in-chief of golconda , later, son mirza ibrahim khan during whole length of langhorne s tenure. agency paid annual tribute 1 madan pant prime minister of golconda. 1674 onwards, agency paid regular tribute naik of chingleput , pallavaram regarded old friends of company apart lingappa, naik of poonamallee.

hostilities golconda

around time, lingappa, naik of poonamallee turned against british when refused pay tribute. complained golconda on arrogance of british of madras exhorting qutb shah of golconda invade , capture fort st george. however, qutb shah making plans invade madras invasion of marathas consumed attention. madras spared invasion restrictions imposed on trade colony. trade of rice , corn forbidden , madras required present thousand hundred yards of cloth along increased tribute.

the company yielded @ once , presented golconda lingappa naik appease. influence lingappa wielded increased manifold , held supreme power between armaghaum , bijapur.

religious tolerance

according 19th century historian james talboys wheeler, langhorne far more tolerant of religious opinions of others, have been expected in intolerant age . reprimanded directors of eic firing guns upon naming of church papists; cannot approve thereof, , desire give little countenance , encouragement religion, ours; , have discountenance, , discourage of our nation ways incline profession.

charges of private trade , recall

in 1676, charges of private trade brought forth against william langhorne directors of company. major james puckle sent investigate charges concluded langhorne receiving annual sum of 20,000 pagodas indian merchant of fort st george called casa verona (kasi veeranna). both denied accusations. other sources state had private income of £7000 year, above £300 allowed company. however, despite langhorne s violent protests recalled in january 1678 , replaced streynsham master agent of madras.