Sir Edward Barnes | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Barnes in 1818, byGeorge Dawe | |
| 5th Governor of British Ceylon | |
| In office 18 January 1824 – 13 October 1831 | |
| Preceded by | James Campbell (acting) |
| Succeeded by | John Wilson (acting) |
| Acting 1 February 1820 – 2 February 1822 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Brownrigg |
| Succeeded by | Edward Paget |
| 12th General Officer Commanding, Ceylon | |
| In office 1820–? | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Cosby Jackson |
| Succeeded by | James Campbell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 October 1776 |
| Died | 19 March 1838(1838-03-19) (aged 61) |
| Spouse | Maria Fawkes (m. 1823) |
| Children |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands | General Officer Commanding, Ceylon Presidency Armies |
| Battles/wars | Peninsular War |
Lieutenant-GeneralSir Edward BarnesGCB (28 October 1776 – 19 March 1838) was aBritish Army officer who served as the governor of BritishCeylon.
Barnes joined the47th Regiment of Foot in 1792 as anensign, and quickly rose tofield rank. He was promoted tolieutenant-colonel in 1807, serving in theInvasion of Martinique in 1809, andcolonel in 1810. Two years later, he served onWellington's staff in thePeninsular War. His services in this capacity gained him further promotion; as amajor-general, he led a brigade in theBattle of Vitoria and took part in the battles thePyrenees,Nivelle,Nive andOrthez.[1] He was awarded theGold Cross and three clasps for his Peninsula service. Barnes served in the campaign of 1815 asadjutant-general, and was wounded at theBattle of Waterloo, where he was known as "our fire eating adjutant general".[1] Already aKCB, he was a recipient of the AustrianOrder of Maria Theresa 3rd Class, and the RussianOrder of St Anne.[2]
In 1808 he was appointed thelieutenant-governor ofDominica serving in the position until 1812, when he was gazetted aslieutenant-governor ofAntigua in December 1813, although he did not take up the appointment.
In 1819, his connection with Ceylon began. Lieutenant-General Barnes was appointed actingGovernor of Ceylon from 1 February 1820 to 2 February 1822, succeedingRobert Brownrigg. He then served as governor of Ceylon from 18 January 1824 to 13 October 1831, succeeded by Robert Wilmot-Horton (1784–1841, governor 13 to 23 October 1831). He directed the construction of the great military road betweenColombo andKandy, and of many other lines of communication, made the first census of the population, and introducedcoffee cultivation based on the West Indian system (1824). In 1831, he received theGCB. From 1832 to 1833, he was commander in-chief inIndia, with the local rank of general.[2]
On his return home, he was appointed in 1834 Colonel of the31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot, a post he held until his death. The same year he stood for Parliament asConservative candidate forSudbury at a by-election. The votes between the two candidates were tied, and thereturning officer gave Barnes his casting vote and declared him elected; however, his opponent petitioned against the outcome, denying that the returning officer had the right to a casting vote, and the issue had not been resolved before Parliament was dissolved. At the1835 general election, Barnes was narrowly defeated, but he finally becameMP forSudbury at the third attempt in 1837;[3] however, he died in the following year.[2]
Along withAdmiral William Bowles, Barnes was responsible for the establishment of theArmy and Navy Club in Pall Mall, London.[1]
Barnes' portrait was painted, for Ceylon, byJohn Wood, and a memorial statue was erected inColombo in front of thePresident's House, Colombo from which point trunk road mileage was measured in Ceylon.[4]
Edward Barnes was born on 28 October 1776, the son of John Barnes and Anne née Parke.
He married Maria Fawkes (1798–1854), ofFarnley Hall, on 31 July 1823 inOtley,Yorkshire.
Barnes died on 19 March 1838 at his home inWalthamstow,Essex and is buried in the churchyard ofSt. Mary's Church, Walthamstow. His gravesite is marked by a large monument, with an inscription giving details of his achievements in life.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911)."Barnes, Sir Edward" .Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Acting Governor of Ceylon 1820–1822 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by James Campbell acting governor | Governor of Ceylon 1824–1831 | Succeeded by John Wilson acting governor |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSudbury 1834–1835 With:Sir John Benn Walsh, Bt | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSudbury 1837–1838 With:Sir James John Hamilton, Bt 1837 Joseph Bailey 1837–1838 | Succeeded by |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by | General Officer Commanding, Ceylon 1820–? | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander-in-Chief, India 1832–1833 | Succeeded by |
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