General Henry Brownrigg This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. AHD web site

   www.lankachronicle.com/his_2.h - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/12/2002   Last Visited: 6/20/2003

   Robert Brownrigg was born in 1759, the second son of Henry Brownrigg of Rockingham, in County Wicklow, Ireland.
   ...
   Brownrigg was a protege of the Duke of York and became his Military Secretary when the Duke was appointed Commander-in-chief in February 1795. He accompanied him in the expedition to the Helder in 1799 and in the same year was appointed Colonel Commandant of the 60th Regiment. He was promoted Major General in 1802, and in 1803 exchanged the appointment of Military Secretary at the Horse Guards for that of Quartermaster-General. His conduct of the latter office received the approbation of the Duke of Wellington and in 1808 Brownrigg was promoted Lieutenant General and served as Quartermaster-General of the Walcheren expedition in 1809.
   
   In October 1811, Brownrigg was appointed Governor of Ceylon. He had not had any experience of civil administration and no previous contact with an oriental people. His appointment as Governor in a colony where recently His Majesty's forces had been engaged in warfare against the levies of the local ruler had clear implications. When he arrived in Ceylon in 1812, the stage was indeed set for another embroilment with the Kandyan kingdom.
   ...
   Brownrigg regarded this "wanton, arbitrary and barbarous piece of cruelty" inflicted on British subjects as sufficient justification for war. By the end of 1814 all preparations were completed for an invasion. On January l0th, 1815, he incurred the sole responsibility for commencing hostilities in opposition to the advice of his Council.
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   General Brownrigg was made a G.C.B. in January 1815 and given a Baronetcy in the following year.
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   "Brownrigg's procession", says a writer, "was led by tusked elephants with swinging bells and an escort of mounted dragoons; he and his wife were borne on tom-johns-comfortable arm chairs with hoods, each with four bearers; these were much cooler than the heavy palanquins, which were impossible on the track, with the further advantage that the passenger could observe the surrounding country by drawing back the front and side curtains."
   
   Brownrigg was now seriously worried by the "rebellion". He learned that there was a Pretender about, a Tamil stranger by the name of Duraiswamy, a brother-in-law of king Rajadhi Rajasinha.
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   Meanwhile Brownrigg had been misled by Ehelepola about the activities of his fellow chiefs. Keppitipola, his brother-in-law, had already thrown in his lot with the rebels.
   
   The Governor was now convinced that the chiefs were "without exception treacherous". He also knew that they were jealous of each other and would betray one another when it suited their ends. "But these faithless politicians", he wrote, "are influenced by discordant motives, and however they may agree in their ambitions and desire for power and honours, they widely differ in their view of the means to acquire, and the manner to divide, the prize.

2. 2. Jaffna Medicine at the Cross Roads

   www.sangam.org/ANALYSIS/Sachi0 - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/10/2002   Last Visited: 9/11/2006

   Previous correspondence with the Governor had implied that they would be allowed to practice in Ceylon, but at the time of their arrival the then Governor, Sir Henry Brownrigg was about the depart.
   ...
   However, Sir Henry Brownrigg overruled him, asserting that, while he still remained in the island, he retained all the rights of governorship, and had given his consent to the Mission.