Rawson Hart Boddam was the former Governor of the Bombay Presidency

Bombay Presidency

The Bombay Presidency was a province of British India. It was established in the 17th century as a trading post for the English East India Company, but later grew to encompass much of western and central India, as well as parts of post-partition Pakistan and the Arabian Peninsula.At its greatest...

 during the rule of the East India Company

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...

 in British India from 1784–1788.

Boddam entered East India Company service in 1752. In 1760 he married Mary Sclater, sister of the Eliza

Elizabeth Draper

Elizabeth Draper, also known as Eliza is most notable for her association with Laurence Sterne, whom she met while visiting England in 1766–1767. Sterne's Journal to Eliza was written for her. She lived in India for most of her life.-References:...

 for whom Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...

 wrote his Journal to Eliza

Journal to Eliza

Journal to Eliza is a work by British author Laurence Sterne. It was published posthumously in 1904. It was written for Mrs. Elizabeth Draper, whom he had met when she visited England in 1766-1767.-References:...

, though Mary died soon after the birth of a son Charles (1762-1811) and is buried in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai 

Rawson Hart Boddam was the first Governor of Bombay to be paid entirely by salary, at an annual rate of nearly £10,000. By a second wife, Eliza Maria Tudor, he had nine children, and settled at Capel House, Bull's Cross, near Enfield

Bulls Cross, Enfield

Bulls Cross is a hamlet located in the London Borough of Enfield, North London, and is part of London's Metropolitan Green Belt.-Etymology:Bulls Cross is recorded as Bedelscrosse in 1465. Recorded thus in c.1580 and on the Ordnance Survey map of 1822...

 on his return to England. He died 'aged 78 years' in May 1812. In the 1920s a portrait was in the possession of Mrs. Hungerford Meyer Boddam, of Capel House, Guildford

Guildford

Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...

.

External links

• Rawson Hart Boddam at Find-A-Grave