Robert Townsend Farquhar facts for kids

Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar (1776 – 16 March 1830) was an important British leader in the early 1800s. He worked for the East India Company and the British government. Farquhar was known as a skilled and determined administrator. He served as a top official, called a Lieutenant-Governor, of Penang Island (then called Prince of Wales Island) from 1804 to 1805. He was also governor of Île de Bourbon, which is now known as Réunion, from 1810 to 1811.

Farquhar became the first Governor of Mauritius on December 4, 1810. He held this role until May 20, 1823. While in Mauritius, he worked hard to stop French slave traders. He even looked into bringing paid workers from China instead of using enslaved people. After returning to Britain, Farquhar became a baronet in 1821. He then served as a Member of Parliament for Newton and later for Hythe.

Early Life and Education

Robert Farquhar was born on October 14, 1776. His father was Sir Walter Farquhar, a famous Scottish doctor. At age 11, in 1787, Robert went to Westminster School. After school, he studied bookkeeping. Soon after, he joined the East India Company.

A Career in Public Service

Robert Farquhar had a long and busy career. He worked in many different roles for the East India Company and the British government. Here is a quick look at some of his main jobs:

• 1795 – 1796: Worked for the East India Company in Madras.
• 1797 – 1798: Assistant and Dutch Translator for an expedition.
• 1798 – 1802: Managed trade for the East India Company in Amboyna and Banda.
• 1804 – 1805: Served as Lieutenant-Governor of Prince of Wales' Island (Penang).
• 1810 – 1811: Interim Administrator of Bourbon (Réunion) and Mauritius.
• 1811 – 1817: Governor of Mauritius.
• 1820 – 1823: Governor of Mauritius again.
• 1825 – 1826: Member of Parliament for Newton.
• 1826 – 1828: Director of the East India Company.
• 1826 – 1830: Member of Parliament for Hythe.

Working in Amboyna

Farquhar quickly moved up in the East India Company. By the late 1790s, he was in charge of trade in Amboyna. This island was a former Dutch colony that Britain had taken during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Farquhar made trade agreements with the leaders of Tidore, Ternate, and Batchian. However, the government in Madras later cancelled these agreements.

In 1802, after the Peace of Amiens, Amboyna was returned to the Dutch. Farquhar was asked to figure out what Britain still owned there.

During his time in Amboyna, Farquhar upset the Governor of Madras. He attacked the Dutch settlement of Ternate without permission when the Napoleonic Wars began. Even though his attack was successful, he was sent back to London. Farquhar resigned but also wrote a strong letter explaining his actions. Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General, was impressed by Farquhar's bold move. He offered Farquhar the job of governor of Penang.

Leading Penang Island

As Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, Farquhar started many projects to improve the island. He worked on roads, water supply, and strengthening the forts. Farquhar Street in Penang is named after him. He also oversaw the rebuilding of Fort Cornwallis.

Farquhar took over as Lieutenant-Governor of Penang on January 1, 1804. He immediately sent many ideas to his bosses in Bengal. Some people thought these plans were almost impossible to achieve. For example, he wanted to turn Pulau Jerejak into a place for building and repairing ships. He also had a detailed plan to bring fresh water to George Town from the waterfall gardens. This plan involved building a long brick channel and pipes.

Farquhar believed his water plan would make a lot of money by charging for water use. His plan to bring clean water was approved. However, the East India Company leaders had some concerns. They thought taxing the company's own ships for water was unusual. They also noted that local people might not use the channeled water because there was already a good well in town. They stressed that taxes should be kept low to encourage more people to settle on the island.

Some people said Farquhar was too reckless with money. They even called his short time in Penang "The Age of Humbug." For example, he reported a huge amount of black pepper exported without any cost to the island. He also claimed the island's population and beauty were growing fast. These reports made the company in London decide to make Penang a major British area in India. However, the people living in Penang wondered how they would pay for all the new staff that came with this change.

Fighting Against Slavery

Farquhar became very interested in the problems caused by the end of the slave trade in 1807. He wrote a plan to replace enslaved African people with paid Chinese workers. His idea was called "Suggestions for counteracting any injurious effects upon the population of the West India colonies from the abolition of the slave trade." However, this idea did not become widely popular.

Governor of Réunion and Mauritius

In July 1810, Farquhar joined a British fleet to invade the French colony of Île Bonaparte, now called Réunion. The attack was successful, and Farquhar stayed on the island as governor. In December 1810, he moved to Mauritius after a successful British invasion of that island.

As governor of these Indian Ocean islands, Farquhar had many maps made of the area. He also encouraged trade with Madagascar and Mozambique. He worked hard to stop the East African slave trade. He sent naval ships to fight French ships carrying enslaved people. He also made agreements with Madagascar and Muscat to end the trade.

Farquhar was Governor of Mauritius for 13 years, though he took a break between 1817 and 1820. He resigned in 1823 and went back to Britain.

A Member of Parliament

On February 11, 1825, Farquhar became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newton. An MP is a person elected to represent a group of people in the country's main law-making body. He later became the MP for Hythe in 1826 and served until his death in 1830.

Becoming a Baronet

On July 27, 1821, Robert Townsend Farquhar was given the special title of Baronet. This title was passed down to his male heirs. A baronet is a person who has been given a special honor by the King or Queen, making them part of a noble family, but not a lord.

Family Life

Robert Farquhar was born on October 14, 1776. He was the second son of Sir Walter Farquhar. In 1824, he officially added "Townsend" to his name, becoming Robert Townsend Farquhar.

He had an older brother, Sir Thomas Harvie Farquhar, and a younger brother, Walter. He also had four sisters. On January 10, 1809, he married Maria Frances Geslip de Lautour. Their only son was Sir Walter Townsend-Farquhar, 2nd Baronet (1809–66). He also had another son, Walter Farquhar Fullerton. In his will, he left money for a young man named George Harrison, whom he had cared for and educated.

Later Years and Death

Robert Townsend Farquhar passed away at his home in London on March 16, 1830. He was 53 years old.

At the time of his death, he was still a director of the East India Company. He was also a director of the Alliance British and Foreign Life and Fire Assurance Company. And, as mentioned, he was a Member of Parliament for Hythe. He had also been a director of the Australian Agricultural Company and a member of the Royal Society.

Legacy

Places Named After Him

Farquhar Street is a main road in George Town, Penang. It is named in his honor.

In Books

The author Patrick O'Brian wrote about him in his book Mauritius Command. In the story, Farquhar is shown as a skilled political leader who worked well with the British military and the local people.