Arthur Purves Phayre | |
|---|---|
 Portrait byColesworthey Grant (1855) | |
| 12th Governor of Mauritius | |
| In office 1874–1878 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| 1st Chief Commissioner of Burma | |
| In office 31 January 1862 – 16 February 1867 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Albert Fytche |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1812-05-07)7 May 1812 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England |
| Died | (1885-12-14)14 December 1885 |
| Occupation | Administrator |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India Companions of the Order of the Bath |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  British Indian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
Sir Arthur Purves PhayreGCMG KCSI CB (7 May 1812 – 14 December 1885) was a careerBritish Indian Army officer who was the firstCommissioner ofBritish Burma, 1862–1867,Governor ofMauritius, 1874–1878, and author.
Phayre was born inShrewsbury and educated atShrewsbury School. His father Richard Phayre, Esq. was grandson of ColonelRobert Phayre, of Killoughram Forest. A brother, SirRobert Phayre (1820–1897), also served in India.
He joined the Indian Army in 1828. In 1846 he was appointed assistant to the commissioner of the province ofTenasserim, Burma, and in 1849 he was made commissioner ofArakan. After theSecond Anglo-Burmese War (1852), he became commissioner ofPegu. He was made a brevet captain in 1854 and in 1862 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
In 1862, Phayre was made commissioner for the entire province of British Burma. He left Burma in 1867. He served as 12thgovernor of Mauritius from 21 September 1874 to 31 December 1878.[1]
He was appointed a CB in 1864, promoted to colonel in 1866 and was knighted with the KCSI in 1867. In 1871, he was promoted to major-general and was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1873. He retired toBray in Ireland and was appointed a GCMG in 1878.[2]
Phayre wrote the first standardHistory of Burma (1883). He is commemorated in the names of a number of animals, including:
Phayre collected coins (some are now in theBritish Museum collection), and in 1882 wroteCoins of Arakan, of Pegu, and of Burma,International Numismata Orientalia, part 8. The title page notes that he was a corresponding member of the Société Académique Indo-Chinoise. He was also a member of theRoyal Asiatic Society.[4]
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Descendants: Colonel Robert Bernard Phayre MC 2/4th Prince of Wales Own Gurkha Rifles, son Colonel Robert Desmond Hensley Phayre Royal Artillery, son Lt Col Robert (Robin) Dermot Spinks Phayre LI, cousin Col Terence Peter Phayre Knott MC RM, of whom son Captain Robert Knott AAC changed name by deed poll to Phayre, to prevent family name dying out.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by first incumbent | Chief Commissioner ofBritish Crown Colony ofBurma 1862–1867 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Mauritius 1874–1878 | Succeeded by SirGeorge Bowen |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
