Bentinck, William Henry Cavendish, Lord, 1774-1839

Lieutenant-General Lord William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck (14 September 1774 – 17 June 1839) better known as Lord William Bentinck, was a British military commander and colonial administrator, who served as the first governor-general of India from 1828 to 1835. He was Governor of Madras from 1803 to 1807, but was recalled when his tactless orders on military dress caused a mutiny. As commander of British troops in Sicily and later Naples and Genoa, he worked against the policy of the London government to encourage self-rule in Sicily and later further north in Italy. His policies were thwarted by London, and to some extent Italian lack of enthusiasm, and he was eventually recalled. After several years in Parliament in London, he was again sent to India, as the first governor general of all the East India Company's domains. He has been credited for significant social and educational reforms in India, including abolishing sati, forbidding women to witness the cremations on the ghats of Varanasi, and suppressing female infanticide and human sacrifice. Bentinck noted "the dreadful responsibility hanging over his head in this world and the next, if… he was to consent to the continuance of this practice (sati) one moment longer." After consultation with the army and officials, he passed the Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829. This was challenged by the Dharma Sabha which appealed in the Privy Council; however, the ban on sati was upheld. He has been credited with reducing lawlessness by eliminating the supposed Thuggee with the aid of his chief captain, William Henry Sleeman. Along with Thomas Babington Macaulay he introduced English as the language of instruction in India. Mysore was annexed under his presidency.