James Rivett-Carnac facts for kids
Sir James Rivett-Carnac, 1st Baronet (born 11 November 1784 – died 28 January 1846) was an important British leader and politician. He was born in India and later became the Governor of the Bombay Presidency in British India. This was a large area in India that was controlled by Britain. He served as Governor from 1838 to 1841. Being a "Baronet" meant he had a special title given by the King or Queen.
Sir James's Work and Achievements
Sir James Rivett-Carnac was born in Bombay (which is now Mumbai) in 1784. He started working for the East India Company in India in 1801. This company was a very powerful British trading company that also governed parts of India. He worked for them for almost 30 years.
He also became a director of the East India Company. This meant he helped make important decisions for the company. He was a director at different times between 1827 and 1838.
In 1838, Sir James became the Governor of the Bombay Presidency. He took over from Robert Grant and stayed in this important role for three years.
Besides his work in India, he was also a Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom. He represented the area of Sandwich from 1837 to 1839. In 1838, he was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a special honour for people who have done great things in science.
His Family Life
Sir James was born with the name James Rivett. In 1801, his last name was officially changed to Rivett-Carnac. This happened because his father, James Rivett, inherited money from his brother-in-law, General John Carnac.
In 1815, Sir James married Anna-Maria Richardes. They had three sons:
- John (1818–1893)
- William (1822–1874)
- Charles (1824–1902)
Many of his family members also became well-known. These include the sailor Charles Rivett-Carnac and a Canadian police commissioner also named Charles Rivett-Carnac. Other famous relatives include the colonial administrator Sir Richard Temple and the fashion designer Lulu Guinness.
Sir James Rivett-Carnac was given the title of "Baronet" in 1836. He passed away on 28 January 1846, at his home in Milford-on-Sea.
His younger brother, Admiral John Rivett-Carnac (1796–1869), was also famous. He was one of the first people to explore parts of Western Australia.
