Robert Short (officer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Short was a lieutenant-colonel in the 21st Madras Native Infantry, Honourable East India Company. He later became 54th Lord of the Manor of Solihull.
, Warwickshire
. He was born to John and Jane Short, née Mashiter. John Short was a well-known and respected surgeon in Solihull
and Jane was from an aristocratic family on her mother's side. Thus, Robert Short had a comfortable childhood and enjoyed the way of life that Solihull
and the surrounding area afforded him; 'Urbs in rure' (town in the country) is the town's motto.
Short was educated at Solihull School
with his five brothers. He was well-known within the school even prior to his acceptance. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Mashiter, had been Headmaster until 1769 and his father was a Feoffee
; a position he held for 57 years. The young Short is said to have enjoyed his days at Solihull
and always showed sporting talent.
Short joined the Army of the Honourable East India Company and achieved the rank of leiutenant-colonel in the 21st Madras Native Infantry at a high point in the Company rule in India
. He retired as an Honorary
Colonel on 9 September 1830.
He was offered another job by the East India Company in India although upon his return to England he married Mary Astle in 1835 and so wanted to remain in the marital home. He took several jobs as a Justice of the Peace
in 1938 and served for a 20 year period. He was also elected to the position of Guardian of the Poor Law Union
and then as its Chairman.
During his career he commended Solihull School
to traders and his fellow officers resulting in an increase in reputation of the school.
He died in 1859 aged 75 and was buried at St Alphege on 2 July. Under his will the Lordship of the Manor passed to the Rev. John Couchman, eldest son of his sister Elizabeth. The Couchmans, who still live locally, remain Lords of the Manor. The Manor House, renamed Manor Cottage, passed to Robert’s younger brother, Tomas who was Deputy Master at Rugby School
having been beaten to the Headmastership by one Dr Thomas Arnold
.
Early years
Short was born on 30 December 1783 in SolihullSolihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He was born to John and Jane Short, née Mashiter. John Short was a well-known and respected surgeon in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
and Jane was from an aristocratic family on her mother's side. Thus, Robert Short had a comfortable childhood and enjoyed the way of life that Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
and the surrounding area afforded him; 'Urbs in rure' (town in the country) is the town's motto.
Short was educated at Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
with his five brothers. He was well-known within the school even prior to his acceptance. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Mashiter, had been Headmaster until 1769 and his father was a Feoffee
Feoffee
A Feoffee is a trustee who holds a fief , that is to say an estate in land, for the use of a beneficial owner. The term is more fully stated as a feoffee to uses of the beneficial owner. The use of such trustees developed towards the end of the era of feudalism in the middle ages and became...
; a position he held for 57 years. The young Short is said to have enjoyed his days at Solihull
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
and always showed sporting talent.
Career
Following Solihull SchoolSolihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
Short joined the Army of the Honourable East India Company and achieved the rank of leiutenant-colonel in the 21st Madras Native Infantry at a high point in the Company rule in India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
. He retired as an Honorary
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
Colonel on 9 September 1830.
He was offered another job by the East India Company in India although upon his return to England he married Mary Astle in 1835 and so wanted to remain in the marital home. He took several jobs as a Justice of the Peace
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
in 1938 and served for a 20 year period. He was also elected to the position of Guardian of the Poor Law Union
Board of Guardians
Boards of guardians were ad hoc authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930.-England and Wales:The boards were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish Overseers of the Poor established under the old poor law, following the recommendations...
and then as its Chairman.
During his career he commended Solihull School
Solihull School
Solihull School is a British Independent school situated near the centre of Solihull, West Midlands, England.2010 saw Solihull School celebrate its 450th anniversary since its foundation in 1560....
to traders and his fellow officers resulting in an increase in reputation of the school.
Latter years
He purchased the Lordship of the Manor of Solihulli in 1850 to become 54th Lord of the Manor.He died in 1859 aged 75 and was buried at St Alphege on 2 July. Under his will the Lordship of the Manor passed to the Rev. John Couchman, eldest son of his sister Elizabeth. The Couchmans, who still live locally, remain Lords of the Manor. The Manor House, renamed Manor Cottage, passed to Robert’s younger brother, Tomas who was Deputy Master at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
having been beaten to the Headmastership by one Dr Thomas Arnold
Thomas Arnold
Dr Thomas Arnold was a British educator and historian. Arnold was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement...
.