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Clan Munro USA
Genealogy Pages
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 1761 - 1827 (66 years)
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| Name |
Thomas Munro [1, 2, 3, 4] |
| Prefix |
Gen. Sir |
| Suffix |
1st Baronet of Lindertis |
| Born |
27 May 1761 |
Glasgow, , Lanark, Scotland  [1] |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
6 Jul 1827 |
Madras, , Tamil Nådu, India [1] |
| Person ID |
I1992 |
Munro |
| Last Modified |
4 Jul 2014 |
| Family |
Jane Campbell, b. Abt 1763, d. 21 Sep 1850 (Age ~ 87 years) |
| Married |
30 Mar 1814 |
| Children |
| | 1. Sir Thomas Munro, 2nd Baronet of Lindertis, b. 30 May 1819, At Sea, Azores , d. 28 Oct 1901, Of, Lindertis, Kirriemuir, Forfarshire (Age 82 years) |
| + | 2. Sir Campbell Munro, 3rd Baronet of Lindertis, b. 7 Sep 1823, , , , Scotland , d. 13 Jun 1913, , , , Scotland (Age 89 years) |
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| Last Modified |
20 Jan 2009 |
| Family ID |
F953 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Notes |
- Thomas was born on 27 May 1761 (ref. 1) or 26 May 1761 (ref. 2).
In his infancy, a severe attack of the measles caused partial deafness. This problem increased as he aged.
He passed from the Grammar School to the Glasgow University when he was about thirteen, remaining at the University for nearly three years. He distinguished himself in mathematics and chemistry. He enjoyed reading history and literature, a taste which he kept up throughout his life.
As a boy, he wanted to read "Don Quixote" in the original, so he taught himself Spanish from a dictionary and a grammar to do so. This knowledge soon proved useful. After a Spanish vessel was captured by a privateer belonging to a mercantile house in Glasgow, he translated some papers found on the vessel. The payment he received for this was his first earnings, and he promptly gave it to his mother.
Thomas was tall and robust. He excelled in all athletic sports, and was possessed of high courage, extraordinary agility, great presence of mind and powers of self-denial.
He spent most of his vacations at a country house called Northwoodside, which was two or three miles from Glasgow. This spot was beautifully situated on the banks of the Kelvin, and he often spent days there fishing in the stream, or swimming in Jackson's dam.
In 1777, his father obtained for him a clerkship in the counting-house of Messrs. Somerville & Gordon, West-Indian merchants in Glasgow. Shortly afterwards, the magistrates, made him a tender of a lieutenancy in the corps which they were raising. Because his father was opposed, he reluctantly declined the offer. His disappointment was increased when several of his old companions departed for military service. One of them was the future Sir John Moore who died at Corunna.
The following year, 1778, the new United States Congress passed the Act of Confiscation and stopped payments to the house where his father was a partner. This rapidly reduced the Munro family to comparative poverty. Because of these circumstances, his father was now glad to accept for his son a midshipman's berth in the mercantile marine of the East India Company, but just before he sailed he was able to get it changed for a cadetship. Not being able to afford to pay for his passage, Thomas obtained permission from the captain of the "Walpole" to work his way out to Madras as an ordinary seaman. He left home on 20 Feb 1779 and arrived in Madras on 15 Jan 1780.
From 1780 to 1792, Thomas was on active duty with the military in the wars against Haidar Ali and Tipu (or Tippoo) Sultan. He fought in a great many battles during this time rising to the rank of Captain.
From 1792 to 1807 he was employed in the civil administration of India. During that time he served in the Baramahal (1792-1799), which had been ceded by Tipu; in Kanara (1799-1800); and from 1800 to 1807, served as a Major in the districts still known as the Ceded Districts, acquired by treaty with the Nizam in 1800. On 24 Apr 1804, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel.
He was one of the few Europeans of those times to become totally fluent in Hindustani and other Indian dialects. He received a silver medal from the East India Company for his services in Seringapatam in 1799. Later, he had a representation of this medal placed on his arms and crest.
On 23 Oct 1807, Thomas sailed for England, having then been in India without interruption for nearly 28 years.
After an interval of six years in Britain, Thomas was sent back to India in 1814 by the Court of Directors as "Principal Commissioner for the revision of the internal administration of the Madras territories". He attained the rank of Colonel on 15 Jun 1815. During 1817-1818, he was in command of a division of the army in the last Maratha War being promoted to Brigadier-General in Dec 1817.
General Munro enjoyed great success in the last Maratha War in which his command captured all the Peishwah's territories between Toombudda and Kistna, and from Kistna northward to Akloos, on the Neemah, and eastward to the Nizam's frontier. On 8 Aug 1818, he received the surrender of Paurghur, the last fort held for the Peishwah.
In January 1819, Thomas, and his wife sailed from Madras for England. Their first child was born enroute near the Azores.
The fame of General Thomas Munro preceded him to England. The House of Commons gave General Munro a vote of thanks after the termination of the Maratha War. In the thanks, Mr. Canning said, "Europe never produced a more accomplished statesman, nor India, so fertile in heros, a more skillful soldier...He went into the field with not more than five or six hundred men, of whom a very small portion were Europeans, and marched into the Maratha territories, to take possession of the country which had been ceded to us by the treaty of Poona. The population which he subjugated by arms, he managed with such address, equity, and wisdom, that he established an empire over their hearts and feelings. Nine forts were surrendered to him, or taken by assault, on his way; and at the end of a silent and scarcely observed progress, he emerged from a territory heretofore hostile to the British interest, with an accession instead of a diminution of force, leaving everything secure and tranquil behind him. This result speaks more than could be told by any minute and extended commentary."
Not many months after returning to England, Thomas was nominated to the Governorship of Madras, India. Before he left India he had been gazetted Companion of the Bath (Oct 1818), was promoted to the rank of Major-General in Aug 1819, and on his acceptance of the Governorship of Madras he was created a K.C.B.
Before departing for his post as Governor, Sir Thomas was entertained at a banquet by the Court of Directors at which his old friend the Duke of Wellington was present as well as Lord Eldon and the rest of His Majesty's Ministers. In an eloquent speech there, Mr. Canning said of Sir Thomas, "I have no doubt that the meritorious officer who has been appointed to the Governorship of Madras will in the execution of his duty ever keep in view those measures which will best conduce to the happiness of twelve millions of people."
Sir Thomas and Lady Munro embarked for India in Dec 1819. They arrived in Bombay in May 1820 where they were entertained for a fortnight by the Governor, Mr. Elphinstone, and then proceeded by sea to Madras, where they landed on 8 Jun. Sir Thomas Munro was sworn in as Governor of Madras on 10 Jun 1820.
He was created first Baronet of Lindertis 6 Aug 1825.
After his death, the Madras government erected a statue in his memory. Shortly after India gained independence in 1947, there was considerable violence and most of the statues and other reminders of the former rulers were pulled down or torched. Sir Thomas Munro, however, was so well thought of, even more than 120 years after his death, that his statue was spared.
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The following is from "Clan Munro" compiled by Alan McNie, published in Jedburgh, Scotland. It is from the chapter entitled "Some Clan Notables".
Munro, Sir Thomas (1761-1827) This Glaswegian was destined for a mercantile career but the side effects of the American Revolution ruined his father's business. Thomas began a new life in Madras as an infantry cadet. His capabilities were soon rewarded with rapid movement through the ranks, becoming major general, as well as being knighted. With peace he was appointed governor of Madras.
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The following is a transcription of RW Munro's genealogy notes:
[Alexander Munro] «i»Third and only surving son of Daniel Munro(1697-1764) (tailor) and Christian Wylie B. (? Bapt.?) 25 Apr 1731, merchant in Glasgow (burgess 20 September 1750); said to have been reduced from affluence to compartive indigence by act of confiscation of 1776 (ruined Virginia Trade); d. Edin. 28 March 1809, having married Margaret Starke (d. 15 May 1807), with issue - Daniel (d. 1799, aged 39); Sir Thomas, 1st Baronet«b» «/b»(1761-1827); Alexander (1764-1850); William (d. c. 1786); James (d. 1798), Erskine (m. 1798, 1. [Sir] Jas Turnbull, 2. Hon Henry Erskine), and Margaret. (m. 1801 G.M. Drummond).
Glasgow Parish Records 1731 (per manuscript of M.W. Grant 1965). Gleig, Sir Thomas Munro. Mackenzie pp 366-8. Burke's Peerage . St Cuthbert's (Edin.) M1 - p 57, Edinburgh Evening Courtant 3 April 1809 & 21 May 1807. Scots Mag. (1809) p. 319, (1798) p. 651. Scots Mag (1807) p. 400. Edinburgh Directories, 1805-6 to 1808-9. Ross-shire Journal. 16 June 1961. Edinburgh Marriage Reg. (1751-1800) p. 573 - dr Erskine. Glasgow Burgess Roll (5RS) 20 September 1750. SRO Glasgow Commissariat Record 26 June 1764. E. Grant "Memoirs of a Highland Lady" (1988 edn) ii 59.
«/i»**********
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The following is a transcription of RW Munro's genealogy notes:
[Alexander Munro] «i»Son of Alexander Munro (1764-1850) and Anne Jane Brown; nephew of Sir Thomas Munro; born 1813; educated Edinburgh Academy, 1825-1829; d unmarried. (father was on committee of contributors appointed in 1822 to promote the founding of the Academy.)
Mackenzie p. 367. EA Reg. p. 19. Scotsman- July 1850 - father.«/i»
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The following is a transcription of RW Munro's genealogy notes:
[Alexander Munro] «i»? Culcraggie family; tailor in Glasgow. Admitted burgess and guild brother in right of wife, 22 April 1697; married Bethia Johnstone, 9 December, 1696; father of Daniel (1697-1764); Robert (1700-__); Isabel(1702- __);Alex (1727x29); John (1732-__);Rachel married William McFarlane); Isabel (baptised 1702); son Daniel had son Alexander (1731-1809) father of Sir Thomas 1st Bart.
Glasgow High Kirk Parish RecordsI (Glasgow City Archives Office, 1969) Marriage; Glasgow Burgess Roll 22 April, 1697; 18 August, 1727-son Daniel; 20 September, 1732-son John
«/i»**********
Ref: "The Munro Tree (1734)" by R. W. Munro - L/26
"Munro Eagle" - #24 - 1993-1994 - p. 22
Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret
References:
(1) "Munro Eagle" - number 26 - 1996 - p. 42-47
(2) "History of the Munros of Fowlis" by A. Mackenzie - Inverness (1898) - p.
367-375
(3) "The Munro Eagle" - number 27 - summer 1997-1998 - p. 44-63
Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA [1, 2, 3, 5]
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| Sources |
- [S668] RW Munro's Genealogy Database, Robert William Munro, (The collected genealogy notes of RW Munro, Hon. Historian of Clan Munro (Association) edited by Dr. Jean Munro, transcribed by Charles C. Munroe, III and others. Transcription completed Jan 2009. Original card file is kept at the "Storehouse of Foulis" near Foulis Castle in Scotland.), card 60 (Reliability: 3).
- [S668] RW Munro's Genealogy Database, Robert William Munro, (The collected genealogy notes of RW Munro, Hon. Historian of Clan Munro (Association) edited by Dr. Jean Munro, transcribed by Charles C. Munroe, III and others. Transcription completed Jan 2009. Original card file is kept at the "Storehouse of Foulis" near Foulis Castle in Scotland.), card 93 (Reliability: 3).
- [S668] RW Munro's Genealogy Database, Robert William Munro, (The collected genealogy notes of RW Munro, Hon. Historian of Clan Munro (Association) edited by Dr. Jean Munro, transcribed by Charles C. Munroe, III and others. Transcription completed Jan 2009. Original card file is kept at the "Storehouse of Foulis" near Foulis Castle in Scotland.), card 172 (Reliability: 3).
- [S783] Wikipedia, Wikipedia.org, (http://www.wikipedia.org/ : continuously updated), accessed 18 May 2012), Munro Baronets (Reliability: 3).
- [S341] Clan Munro files - Allen, Daniel Thomas, Daniel Thomas Allen, Membership application for Daniel T. Allen dated 7 Jun 1999 (Reliability: 3).
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