Joseph Collett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph Collett
President of Fort St George (Madras)
In office 8 January 1717 – 18 January 1720
Preceded by	Edward Harrison
Succeeded by	Francis Hastings
Personal details
Born	1673
Died	1725
Spouse	Mary Ross
Children	Elizabeth Collett John Collett(1698–1716) Henrietta Collett Mary Collett Ann Collett
Signature

Joseph Collett (1673–1725) was a British leader who worked for the British East India Company. This company was very powerful in trade and government. Joseph Collett was a deputy-governor in Bencoolen from 1712 to 1717. He then became the governor of Madras Presidency from 1717 to 1720. He also rebuilt Hertford Castle in England and tried to become a member of the British Parliament.

Joseph Collett's Early Life

Joseph Collett was born in England in 1673. His father, John Collett, was a glover. Joseph married Mary Ross when he was young. After Mary passed away in 1710, he joined the British East India Company. He was chosen to be the Deputy-Governor of Sumatra. In 1711, while sailing to Rio de Janeiro, his ship was captured by the French. He was set free after paying a large amount of money.

Leading Bencoolen

On September 1, 1712, Collett arrived at York Fort in Bencoolen, which is in Sumatra. He was then made the deputy-governor of Bencoolen. This area was under the control of the governor of Madras. In 1714, he built a new fort and brought peace to Sumatra, which had been in conflict. Collett moved his home to the new Fort Marlborough. In 1716, he was chosen to be the President of Madras. He officially started this job on January 8, 1717.

While he was the deputy-governor of Bencoolen, Collett made a famous comment about the local leaders, called rajas, in the East Indies:

I treat them as a man treats his wife, very complaisant in trifles, but immovable in matters of importance

Joseph Collett as President of Madras

Solving Community Conflicts

When Collett became President, he immediately faced a big problem. Before he took over, there were serious arguments between two groups, the Komatis and the Chetties. They had tried to make peace, but the agreement was not kept. Many Chetties left Madras. Collett had to stop more people from leaving. He ordered that the belongings of those who left be taken. He also announced a rule: people from different community groups could not worship in each other's temples. This was to prevent further conflicts.

Agreements with the Mughal Empire

On July 24, 1717, the British East India Company celebrated a special agreement called a firman. This agreement was from the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar. Because of this firman, the Madras Presidency gained control of Divy Island, which is off the coast of Masulipatnam.

The British also wanted the village of Tiruvottiyur from the Nawab of the Carnatic. They said the Emperor's firman gave them the right to it. But the Nawab did not believe them. He said he had not seen the actual document. They eventually reached a deal. Collett promised to give the Nawab 500 pagodas (a type of money) and some fine cloth. He also promised 200 pagodas to the Nawab's son-in-law, Dakha Roy. On September 23, Collett went to Tiruvottiyur and took control of it and two other villages.

Conflicts with the Carnatic Nawab

However, on September 29, the Nawab's representative blocked the road to Fort St George. He said the Nawab wanted 1,000 pagodas for Tiruvottiyur. New threats also appeared for the British control of Divy Island. Because of money problems, Collett decided to rent out five villages they had gained from the firman. He rented them for 1,200 pagodas each per year for 12 years.

The Nawab's demands were not met. So, on October 18, Dayaram, a leader under the Nawab, marched to Tiruvottiyur. He had an army of 250 horsemen and 1000 foot soldiers. They removed the British flag and took over the village. The British leaders decided that Collett should use force to remove Dayaram and his troops.

On October 19, Lieutenant John Roach led 150 British soldiers into Tiruvottiyur. They fought Dayaram's men and defeated them. They chased them into the plains around Madras. The Nawab sent 500 more men to attack the British from the north. But Lieutenant Roach and his men were saved when more soldiers arrived from Madras. Lieutenant Fullerton came with 100 men. Together, they defeated Dayaram's forces and chased them away. After their mission, the British troops quickly returned to Fort St George.

When Lieutenant Roach arrived back in Madras, some local people rebelled against the British. After a six-hour battle, the Nawab's supporters were driven out of the city. This was a big victory for the British East India Company, even though they had fewer soldiers. Lieutenant Roach was rewarded with more pay for his success.

The Nawab then offered peace to the British President. On December 15, 1718, peace was made between the Nawab and the British East India Company. Collett agreed to pay 2,000 pagodas to the Nawab and 1,000 pagodas to Dakhna Roy for the villages.

After this peace, the Nawab and the British East India Company had friendly relations. When Dakhna Roy, the Nawab's chief minister, visited Madras in February 1719, he received a grand welcome. He was given a nice house in Black Town for his stay.

New Rules and Changes

On May 27, 1717, Collett approved a plan to open two Charity schools. These schools were for the children of English servants in Madras, one in Black Town and one in White Town. In April 1719, Joseph Collett announced strict rules against Portuguese Roman Catholics from St. Thome marrying Protestants from Madras. On May 25, 1719, Collett hired George Foriano to translate documents between Portuguese and English. This made him the first translator for the company in Madras. On July 9, 1719, the company decided to reduce the number of soldiers at Fort St George to 360 and at Fort St David to 340.

In November 1719, Collett changed the tax rules for registering land and servants. In the same month, another rule made it necessary to register all houses and gardens in Black Town. However, very poor people complained that they could not afford the high registration fees. So, Collett changed the rule. All houses worth less than 50 pagodas were excused from this tax.

Collett also started a new village for weavers and cloth painters near Tiruvottiyur. This village was named Collettpettah in his honor. A report from Collett in December 1719 showed that this village had 489 people living in 105 houses.

In October 1719, Joseph Collett decided to resign and return to England. He said the hot weather in Madras was too much for him. He suggested Francis Hastings as his replacement. However, the company leaders chose Nathaniel Elwick instead. Collett resigned and left for England almost immediately. Nathaniel Elwick took over as President.

Joseph Collett's Later Life

Collett became very wealthy as President of Madras. He returned to England on January 8, 1720. He settled in Hertford with his daughters, Henrietta and Mary. In 1721, he joined a new church and tried to be elected to the British Parliament.

He passed away in 1725. His tombstone in Bunhill Fields has words he wrote himself. They show his religious beliefs, saying: "The gift of the only and only supreme God the Father, by the ministration of His Son Jesus Christ".