John Sullivan (British governor)
Encyclopedia
John Sullivan was the Collector
of Coimbatore
, India
, who is best known as the founder of the town of Ooty.
Born in London
, he joined the British East India Company
as a writer at the age of 15.
Between 1815-1816 John Sullivan was Major General and fought the Anglo Nepal War.This is were he established rapport with Colonel David Ouchterlony and his daughter Henrietta Cecilia. Henrietta was of an Asian descent born through Oucheterlony's Begum who was the descendant of a Jewish Prophet.
In 1819, he set out to explore the Nilgiris
after obtaining an order from the British East India Company charging him with investigating the "origin of the fabulous tales that are circulated concerning the Blue Mountains to verify their authenticity and to send a report to the authorities".
With a detachment of Europeans and Indian sepoy
s, he set out on his mission on 2 January 1819. The journey involved crossing rough and harsh terrain, steep precipices and facing danger from wild animals. After an expedition that lasted for six days and the loss of the lives of many of the expedition members, Sullivan finally reached a plateau from where he proudly hoisted the British flag. After touring the area in 1819, John Sullivan, collector for Coimbatore district, began a personal campaign to persuade the government of Madras that the location's "unusually temperate and healthy" climate made it ideal as a "resort of Invalids." In 1821 the medical board of the presidency ordered three assistant surgeons to investigate these claims. Their reports persuaded the board that "we fully anticipate very great advantages from a resort to these Hills," and it recommended that fifty invalid soldiers be sent there to test the region's salubrity. Independently, Sullivan and other officials from neighboring districts established summer residences at Ootacamund, nestled in the heart of the Nilgiris. This nascent community soon attracted a stream of visitors in search of health and leisure.
Sullivan was driven by a spirit of innovation and enterprise. He was the first to introduce horticulture in the Nilgiris. Potato, barley and other "English" agricultural products are some of the crops he introduced.
In 1822, John Sullivan, began construction of his residence, called the 'Stonehouse', on property he had purchased from the Toda
s. His wife, who had the distinction of being the first Indo-European woman in the Nilgiris, moved into the house in 1823 along with his infant son and others who made Ooty their abode was Sir Thomas Munro, the governor of Madras, who stayed at Ootacamund. Henrietta's paternal uncle James Oucheterlony and his family with thirteen children also stayed in a stone house constructed during the same time.
The Ooty Lake was created between 1823 and 1825 by Sullivan as a source of irrigation.
Years later. He explained to his superiors: "the climate is particularly salubrious, and I rejoice to say my health has derived infinite benefit from my residence in it."[9] This retreat quickly became a magnet for invalided officers and other Europeans in upper India seeking rest cures.
Considering the age in which he lived, his attitudes towards the local population were remarkably progressive, arguing that the native people should be allowed to govern their own affairs. He also held that the Todas had total proprietary rights over the Nilgiris, which set him at odds with the East India Company officials.
By 1828, there were some 25 houses, not to mention churches and the houses of immigrants from the plains. This was also the year that Ooty was made a military cantonment. Sullivan's dream of making it a sanatorium for British troops had been fulfilled, but the Government's action meant that Ooty would no longer be in his control but in that of his rival Major William Kelso.
But Sullivan wasn't through with Ooty. After he finished his tenure as Collector of Coimbatore, he returned in his capacity as the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue of the Madras Presidency.
Disaster struck in 1841 which were marked by tragedy in Sullivan's life. In 1841, his wife and daughter died within weeks of each other. John Sullivan's wife's and daughter's funeral were held at the St. Stephen's church and the graves can be seen even today. A grieving Sullivan left the hill station which he dearly loved and developed and returned to Calcutta with his nine children. 1848 -49 John Sullivan kept a Day School in Calcutta and was a journalist in Calcutta. He died 16 January 1855 and was buried in the churchyard of St Laurence, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Berkshire, where his grave may still be seen. The west window of the church is a memorial to him. The grave is shared by Frances, his second wife (1799-1876).
The first house which Sullivan built at the village Hossatty, near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, is currently the only memorial left in the Nilgiris. It is known as the "Sullivan's Bungalow" and is located at a place called Kannerimukku, near Kotagiri
town. Sullivan contributed to the diversified floral growth in the region and he also introduced potatoes and other English vegetables to the local community at that time [Badagas and Todas] and played a very important role in developing the district as well as the headquarters - Ootacamund [now called Udhagamandalam, in short Ooty] which is an important Hill Station. He also played an important role in developing the ancient Toda tribe [this tribe has also been considered to be descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great who were shipwrecked at Elimalar in 326 BCE and through DNA analysis are most closely related to Greek Cypriots); he also played an important role in developing other communities like Badagas [Buffalo breeders], Kotas [Jewellery], Kurumbas [Witchcraft and Priests] and Irulas [Pottery]. John Sullivan is regarded with great respect by the localites even today, for his contribution to the district of the 'Nilgiris', also known as the 'Blue Mountains'.
John Sullivan left OOTY after a disastrous tragedy but he lived in Calcutta,India briefly with his nine children and grandchildren. It only implies that the tragedy was very grave and until this day the fear keeps the descendants of John Sullivan away from their birth place, and away from their inheritance.If John Sullivan's pen was stronger than the sword the tragic tale will be revealed one day.
District collector
The District Collector is the district head of administration of the bureaucracy in a state of India. Though he/she is appointed and is under general supervision of the state government, he/she has to be a member of the elite IAS recruited by the Central Government...
of Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who is best known as the founder of the town of Ooty.
Born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he joined the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
as a writer at the age of 15.
Between 1815-1816 John Sullivan was Major General and fought the Anglo Nepal War.This is were he established rapport with Colonel David Ouchterlony and his daughter Henrietta Cecilia. Henrietta was of an Asian descent born through Oucheterlony's Begum who was the descendant of a Jewish Prophet.
In 1819, he set out to explore the Nilgiris
Nilgiris (mountains)
The Nilgiri , often referred to as the Nilgiri Hills, are a range of mountains with at least 24 peaks above , in the westernmost part of Tamil Nadu state at the junction of Karnataka and Kerala states in Southern India...
after obtaining an order from the British East India Company charging him with investigating the "origin of the fabulous tales that are circulated concerning the Blue Mountains to verify their authenticity and to send a report to the authorities".
With a detachment of Europeans and Indian sepoy
Sepoy
A sepoy was formerly the designation given to an Indian soldier in the service of a European power. In the modern Indian Army, Pakistan Army and Bangladesh Army it remains in use for the rank of private soldier.-Etymology and Historical usage:...
s, he set out on his mission on 2 January 1819. The journey involved crossing rough and harsh terrain, steep precipices and facing danger from wild animals. After an expedition that lasted for six days and the loss of the lives of many of the expedition members, Sullivan finally reached a plateau from where he proudly hoisted the British flag. After touring the area in 1819, John Sullivan, collector for Coimbatore district, began a personal campaign to persuade the government of Madras that the location's "unusually temperate and healthy" climate made it ideal as a "resort of Invalids." In 1821 the medical board of the presidency ordered three assistant surgeons to investigate these claims. Their reports persuaded the board that "we fully anticipate very great advantages from a resort to these Hills," and it recommended that fifty invalid soldiers be sent there to test the region's salubrity. Independently, Sullivan and other officials from neighboring districts established summer residences at Ootacamund, nestled in the heart of the Nilgiris. This nascent community soon attracted a stream of visitors in search of health and leisure.
Sullivan was driven by a spirit of innovation and enterprise. He was the first to introduce horticulture in the Nilgiris. Potato, barley and other "English" agricultural products are some of the crops he introduced.
In 1822, John Sullivan, began construction of his residence, called the 'Stonehouse', on property he had purchased from the Toda
Toda
Toda can refer to:People:*Hiroshi Toda, Japanese mathematician*Morikazu Toda, Japanese physicist*Keiko Toda, Japanese actress*Erika Toda, Japanese actress*Naho Toda, Japanese actress*Toda Seigen, swordsman*Toda Katsushige, daimyo...
s. His wife, who had the distinction of being the first Indo-European woman in the Nilgiris, moved into the house in 1823 along with his infant son and others who made Ooty their abode was Sir Thomas Munro, the governor of Madras, who stayed at Ootacamund. Henrietta's paternal uncle James Oucheterlony and his family with thirteen children also stayed in a stone house constructed during the same time.
The Ooty Lake was created between 1823 and 1825 by Sullivan as a source of irrigation.
Years later. He explained to his superiors: "the climate is particularly salubrious, and I rejoice to say my health has derived infinite benefit from my residence in it."[9] This retreat quickly became a magnet for invalided officers and other Europeans in upper India seeking rest cures.
Considering the age in which he lived, his attitudes towards the local population were remarkably progressive, arguing that the native people should be allowed to govern their own affairs. He also held that the Todas had total proprietary rights over the Nilgiris, which set him at odds with the East India Company officials.
By 1828, there were some 25 houses, not to mention churches and the houses of immigrants from the plains. This was also the year that Ooty was made a military cantonment. Sullivan's dream of making it a sanatorium for British troops had been fulfilled, but the Government's action meant that Ooty would no longer be in his control but in that of his rival Major William Kelso.
But Sullivan wasn't through with Ooty. After he finished his tenure as Collector of Coimbatore, he returned in his capacity as the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue of the Madras Presidency.
Disaster struck in 1841 which were marked by tragedy in Sullivan's life. In 1841, his wife and daughter died within weeks of each other. John Sullivan's wife's and daughter's funeral were held at the St. Stephen's church and the graves can be seen even today. A grieving Sullivan left the hill station which he dearly loved and developed and returned to Calcutta with his nine children. 1848 -49 John Sullivan kept a Day School in Calcutta and was a journalist in Calcutta. He died 16 January 1855 and was buried in the churchyard of St Laurence, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Berkshire, where his grave may still be seen. The west window of the church is a memorial to him. The grave is shared by Frances, his second wife (1799-1876).
The first house which Sullivan built at the village Hossatty, near Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, is currently the only memorial left in the Nilgiris. It is known as the "Sullivan's Bungalow" and is located at a place called Kannerimukku, near Kotagiri
Kotagiri
Kotagiri is a panchayat town in The Nilgiris District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Kotagiri is situated at an elevation of around 1793 m above sea level and is one of the three popular hill stations located in the Nilgiris...
town. Sullivan contributed to the diversified floral growth in the region and he also introduced potatoes and other English vegetables to the local community at that time [Badagas and Todas] and played a very important role in developing the district as well as the headquarters - Ootacamund [now called Udhagamandalam, in short Ooty] which is an important Hill Station. He also played an important role in developing the ancient Toda tribe [this tribe has also been considered to be descendants of the soldiers of Alexander the Great who were shipwrecked at Elimalar in 326 BCE and through DNA analysis are most closely related to Greek Cypriots); he also played an important role in developing other communities like Badagas [Buffalo breeders], Kotas [Jewellery], Kurumbas [Witchcraft and Priests] and Irulas [Pottery]. John Sullivan is regarded with great respect by the localites even today, for his contribution to the district of the 'Nilgiris', also known as the 'Blue Mountains'.
John Sullivan left OOTY after a disastrous tragedy but he lived in Calcutta,India briefly with his nine children and grandchildren. It only implies that the tragedy was very grave and until this day the fear keeps the descendants of John Sullivan away from their birth place, and away from their inheritance.If John Sullivan's pen was stronger than the sword the tragic tale will be revealed one day.