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reinstatement of the raja, and demanded the assistance of the council in recovering his property. Pigot refused to admit the validity of these claims, but his opinion was disregarded by the majority of the council, and his customary right to precedence in the conduct of business was denied. The final struggle between the governor and his council was on a comparatively small point—whether his nominee, Mr. Russell, or
Colonel Stuart, the nominee of the majority, should have the opportunity of placing the administration of Tanjore in the hands of the Raja. In spite of Pigot's refusal to allow the question of Colonel Stuart's instructions to be discussed by the council, the majority gave their approval to them, and agreed to a draft letter addressed to the officer at Tanjore, directing him to deliver over the command to Colonel Stuart. Pigot thereupon declined to sign either the instructions or the letter, and declared that without his signature the documents could have no legal effect. At a meeting of the council on 22 August 1776, a resolution was carried by the majority denying that the concurrence of the governor was necessary to constitute an act of government. It was also determined that, as Pigot would not sign either of the documents, a letter should be written to the secretary authorizing him to sign them in the name of the council. When this letter had been signed by
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votes to 140. The feeling in Pigot's favour was much less strong in the court of directors, where, on 11 April following, a series of resolutions in favour of Pigot's restoration, but declaring that his conduct in several instances appeared to be reprehensible, was carried by the decision of the lot, the numbers on each side being equal. At a subsequent meeting of the directors, after the annual change in the court had taken place, it was resolved that the powers assumed by Lord Pigot were "neither known in the constitution of the
Company nor authorised by charter, nor warranted by any orders or instructions of the Court of Directors". Pigot's friends, however, successfully resisted the passing of a resolution declaring the exclusion of Messrs. Stratton and Brooke from the council unconstitutional, and carried two other resolutions condemning Pigot's imprisonment and the suspension of those members of the council who had supported him. On the other hand, a resolution condemning the conduct of Lord Pigot in receiving small presents from the
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been concerned in Pigot's arrest. The real contest throughout had been between the Nawab of Arcot and the Raja of
Tanjore. Members of the council took sides, and Pigot exceeded his powers while endeavouring to carry out the instructions of the directors. The proceedings before the coroner were held to be irregular by the supreme court of judicature in Bengal, and nothing came of the inquiry instituted by the company. On 16 April 1779, Admiral Hugh Pigot brought the subject of his brother's deposition before the House of Commons. A series of resolutions affirming the principal facts of the case was agreed to, and an address to the king, recommending the prosecution of Messrs. Stratton, Brooke, Floyer, and Mackay, who were at that time residing in England, was adopted. They were tried in the King's Bench before
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ingenious manœuvre, Pigot obtained a majority in the council by his own casting vote, and the two offending members were subsequently suspended. On 23 August, the refractory members, instead of attending the council meeting, sent a notary public with a protest in which they denounced Pigot's action on the previous day, and declared themselves to be the "only legal representatives of the
Honourable Company under this presidency". This protest was also sent by them to the commanders of the king's troops, and to all persons holding any authority in Madras. Enraged at this insult, Pigot summoned a second council meeting on the same day, at which Messrs. Floyer, Palmer, Jerdan, and Mackay, who had joined Messrs. Stratton and Brooke and the commanding officer,
331:(1726–1783) in January 1761, Pigot demanded that it should be given up to the presidency of Madras as the property of the East India Company. This Coote refused after consulting his chief officers, who were of opinion that the place ought to be held for the Crown. Pigot thereupon declared that unless his demand was complied with, he would not furnish any money for the subsistence of the King's troops or the French prisoners. Upon this, Coote gave way, and Pigot took possession of Pondichéry, and destroyed all the fortifications in obedience to the orders previously received from England. Pigot resigned office on 14 November 1763, and forthwith returned to England. He was created a
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421:, the receipt of which had been openly avowed in a letter to the court of directors, was carried. At a meeting of the general court held on 7 and 9 May a long series of resolutions was carried by a majority of ninety-seven votes, which censured the invasion of Pigot's rights as governor, and acquiesced in his restoration, but at the same time recommended that Pigot and all the members of the council should be recalled in order that their conduct might be more effectually inquired into. Owing to
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409:, where he was left in an officer's house under the charge of a battery of artillery. The refractory members, under whose orders Pigot's arrest had been made, immediately assumed the powers of the executive government, and suspended all their colleagues who had voted with the governor. Though the government of
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Meantime Pigot died on 11 May 1777, while under confinement at the company's Garden House, near Fort St. George, whither he had been allowed to return for change of air in the previous month. At the inquest held after his death, the jury recorded a verdict of willful murder against all those who had
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In
England, the news of these proceedings excited much discussion. At a general court of the proprietors, a resolution that the directors should take effectual measures for restoring Lord Pigot, and for inquiring into the conduct of those who had imprisoned him, was carried on 31 March 1777, by 382
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Meanwhile, the conduct of Pigot was censured by the court of directors in Great
Britain, and the order for his restoration was followed immediately by another for his recall. This happened about a month after his death, but before the news had reached Great Britain. In 1779 the matter was discussed
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on 21 May. The resolutions of the proprietors having been confirmed by the court of directors, Pigot was restored to his office by a commission under the company's seal of 10 June 1777, and was directed within one week to give up the government to his successor and forthwith to return to
England.
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and Henry Brooke, Pigot snatched it away and formally charged them with an act subversive of the authority of the government. By the standing orders of the company, no member against whom a charge was preferred was allowed to deliberate or vote on any question relating to the charge. Through this
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had already asserted that he held assignments on the revenues of
Tanjore for sums of vast amount lent by him to the Nawab, as well as assignments on the growing crops in Tanjore for large sums lent by him to other persons. He now pleaded that his interests ought not to be affected by the
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and a special jury in
December 1779, and were found guilty of a misdemeanour in arresting, imprisoning, and deposing Lord Pigot. On being brought up for judgment on 10 February 1780, they were each sentenced to pay a fine of ÂŁ1,000, on payment of which they were discharged.
319:, they were attacked by a large body of polýgars, and narrowly escaped with their lives. Pigot succeeded Thomas Saunders as governor and commander-in-chief of Madras on 14 January 1755. He conducted the defence of the city, when besieged by
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George
Stratton of Madras and Tew Park, Born Madras, 12th December 1733. Died Great Tew, Oxon, 20th March 1800. Buried Great Tew, "in woollen only", 28th March 1800. Exponent of proactive régime change and thereby Governor of Madras
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Returning to India in 1775 to reoccupy his former position at Madras, Pigot was at once involved in a fierce quarrel with the majority of his council which arose out of the proposed restoration of
401:, in signing the protest, were suspended, and orders were at the same time given for the arrest of Sir Robert Fletcher. On the following day Pigot was arrested by Colonel Stuart and conveyed to
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Major George Pigot (1772?-1830) Along with Richard and Hugh, son of Catherine Hill. Member of settler community who immigrated from England (1820) to present Eastern-Cape coast of
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Pigot was unmarried. Upon his death the Irish barony became extinct, while the baronetcy devolved on his brother Robert Pigot. He left several natural children, among others:
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in spite of the treaty which had been made during Pigot's previous tenure of office. Upon Pigot's return from Tanjore the differences in the council became more accentuated.
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on 11 December 1775, and soon found himself at variance with some of his council. In accordance with the instructions of the directors he proceeded to
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in 1736, at the age of 17; after nineteen years he became governor and commander-in-chief of Madras in 1755. Having defended the city against the
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379:, where he issued a proclamation on 11 April 1776 announcing the restoration of the Raja, whose territory had been seized and transferred to
571:, which he bequeathed to his siblings and eventually left the family by way of a lottery. The whereabouts of the diamond today is unknown.
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on 5 December 1764, with remainder in default of male issue to his brothers Robert and Hugh, and their heirs male. He represented
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476:(c. 1721–1792) was a sailor. After some years of service he became an admiral and commander-in-chief in the
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from January 1765 to the dissolution in March 1768. At the general election in March 1768, he was returned for
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Pigot was the eldest son of Richard Pigot of Westminster, by his wife Frances, daughter of Peter Goode, a
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possessed a controlling authority over the other presidencies, it declined to interfere.
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488:(1769–1797), a captain in the RN, who in September 1797, was murdered during a famous
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on behalf of the company, he resigned his office in November 1763 and returned to the
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Richard Pigot (1774–1868), general in the army and colonel of the 4th dragoon guards;
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Leonora, who received a fortune under her father's will and married 17 October 1777
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in the winter of 1758–9, with considerable skill and spirit. On the capture of
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Mary Green (c.1772-1852) who married, aged twelve in 1784, John Blashfield of
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in charge of some recruits and stores. On their return with a small escort of
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Ogden, J. M. (April 2009). "England's Largest Diamond (The Pigot – Part 1)".
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Ogden, J. M. (July 2009). "England's Largest Diamond (The Pigot – Part 2)".
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843:. Vol. 21 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 600.
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who had come to England in the late seventeenth century. Frances was a "
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In April 1775, Pigot was appointed governor and commander-in-chief of
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796: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
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19:"George Pigot" redirects here. For the British Army officer, see
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472:. He became a lieutenant general in 1782. The other brother,
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Marshall, P. J. "Pigot, George, Baron Pigot (1719–1777)".
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Two of the governor's brothers were men of repute. Sir
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Sophia Pigot, who married, on 14 March 1776, the Hon.
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151:(4 March 1719 – 11 May 1777) was twice the British
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705:. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014.
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303:on 26 July 1737. When a member of council at
854:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
605:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
514:, Staffordshire, and died on 1 January 1834;
812:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
749:. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
523:, K.C.B. (1775–1857), admiral of the White;
153:President of the British East India Company
60:14 January 1755 – 14 November 1763
49:President of the British East India Company
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216:in 1764. After selling the family seat of
95:11 December 1775 – 23 August 1776
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596:"Pigot, George, Baron Pigot (1719–1777)"
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602:Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
327:by Lieutenant-colonel (afterwards Sir)
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699:"The Genealogy of the Stratton Family"
291:, with the demolished citadel in view.
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480:in 1782. One of his sons was General
958:Member of Parliament for Wallingford
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192:Triumphal entrance to Patshull Hall
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456:(1720–1796), who succeeded to the
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687:. 24 December 1765. p. 2.
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484:(1750–1840), and another was
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177:. His brothers were Admiral
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920:Governor of Madras
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561:The Pigot Diamond
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147:
145:
113:Succeeded by
90:
78:Succeeded by
55:
30:George Pigot
1113:1777 deaths
1108:1719 births
1048:Baron Pigot
975:John Aubrey
947:John Hervey
903:Robert Palk
780:(3): 36–37.
767:(2): 30–33.
679:"No. 10586"
640:"No. 10472"
616:30 December
554:Radnorshire
478:West Indies
468:during the
466:Bunker Hill
349:Baron Pigot
337:Wallingford
234:Baron Pigot
226:Wallingford
218:Peplow Hall
136:11 May 1777
101:Preceded by
83:Robert Palk
66:Preceded by
1102:Categories
1027:Hugh Pigot
924:1775–1776
897:1755–1763
870:required.)
628:required.)
575:References
550:Presteigne
486:Hugh Pigot
474:Hugh Pigot
423:Lord North
345:Bridgnorth
329:Eyre Coote
325:Pondichéry
269:Parliament
242:Bridgnorth
206:Pondichéry
179:Hugh Pigot
989:John Grey
494:HMS
462:Lexington
458:baronetcy
170:tirewoman
91:In office
56:In office
1056:Extinct
715:cite web
496:Hermione
257:Thuljaji
165:Huguenot
1076:Baronet
828::
800::
377:Tanjore
339:in the
333:baronet
248:of the
228:in the
214:baronet
1006:With:
964:With:
864:
822:
622:
490:mutiny
448:Family
411:Bengal
407:Madras
365:Madras
317:sepoys
301:Madras
273:barony
259:, the
202:French
183:Robert
708:1776.
580:Notes
434:Death
246:LL.D.
173:" to
721:link
618:2013
464:and
159:Life
133:Died
856:doi
837:".
806:".
607:doi
510:of
311:to
267:in
1104::
778:18
776:.
765:18
763:.
743:.
717:}}
713:{{
701:.
681:.
654:^
642:.
599:.
552:,
499:.
383:,
355:.
185:.
155:.
862:.
858::
802:"
723:)
668:.
620:.
609::
556:.
545:.
538:.
23:.
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