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An administrator of the British government who served as the Governor-General of India and the seat of the Viceroy for six years. As the first Viceroy, he also faced the First War of Independence in 1857. The Hindu Widow Remarriage Act was passed during his tenure.
Died on 17th June 1862
Somewhere far away from the Indian subcontinent, in Brompton near London, in the house of Cannings was born another Lord. He was the youngest of his parents. George and Joan named their baby Lord Charles and educated him in the best of the schools and colleges. He was a pro in classics and mathematics.
When 24, Charles Canning entered the Parliament and immediately slipped into the more conservative sections of the House of Commons. A year later he made it to the House of Lords and went on to hold many prominent and significant posts in administration, to manage the affairs of his country.
Lord Canning was doing his work, strolling through documents and working hard as the Postmaster-General, when he heard the news that Lord Dalhousie had departed the earth. The vacancy for an over the top significant position of the Governor-General of India was opened. Then what? The new Governor sailed from the seas of England to the shores of India to take on his new duties.
As soon as he landed up, he started on his work, without a day's delay. First of all, he passed the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act in 1856. Not the whole credit can go to Canning as the law was drafted by Dalhousie and was a result of his vision for the country. Second, he started work on the General Service Enlistment Act, 1856. But before the thoughts could become action, something tragic and big happened.
Indians had risen in revolt and had taken up arms against the British. The country was brewing with tensions from long regarding the presence of the British in the country and their wicked policies. Canning was new in the picture but he was a representative of colonialism. Despite thinking of himself to be an unfit person to take the lead, he rose to the occasion and took actions to somehow weather the storm and preserve India's presence in the world as Britain's colony.
Through his swift handling of the situation and calm demeanour, India soon moved out of the revolt. He did not move on to punish those who had revolted against the regime but adopted the policy of clemency when all Britain wanted to do was indiscriminately suppress the local population.
When Oudh rose in rebellion, Canning issued a proclamation that declared the lands of the province as forfeited. This policy brought forth harsh criticisms for the Lord and forced him to think about resignation. He, however, continued with his work and handled the criticisms calmly. When the fog was cleared on the move, he was risen to the post of Viceroy of India.
The way he handled Indian rebels and the situation afterwards, Britain could do nothing but look in awe at their Lord ruling swiftly. He was honoured and thanked for his services and was given the dignitary title of the Earl, hence called Earl Canning.
But the stress and excessive work to hold on to a country in rebellion took a heavy toll on his health. His strength had been seriously impaired. Adding to this, the death of his wife sent him shocks of pain. In 1862, he left India, in the hope that his native land and people will restore his health and peace. By the time he reached England, it was too late. Canning was lost on 17 June 1862 and joined his wife in the tether world.
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