Richard Barwell, a top East India Company official, said to have made one of the largest fortunes in colonial India, passed away on this day.
He was the son of William Barwell, governor of Bengal, and was born in Kolkata in 1741.
Following the Regulating Act of 1773, Richard was appointed a member of council in Bengal, along with Warren Hastings as Governor-General, John Clavering as commander-in-chief and Philip Francis as one of the council colleagues.
Richard was a dedicated supporter of Hastings, as Francis was the Governor-General’s constant critic. Like Hastings, Barwell had been accused of corruption and greed. He was said to have evaded the East India Company law that prohibited company officials from trading by obtaining salt contracts under the name of Indians. He fought a duel with General Clavering.
His first wife was Miss Sanderson, who died young, leaving behind a son. A portrait of Richard with his son was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds. On his return to England Richard became a Tory MP.
