William Fytche (1716 – 10 August 1753)[1] was an administrator of the English East India Company. He served as President of Bengal in the mid-eighteenth century.[2] He was one of the last administrators before the Battle of Plassey allowed the company to firmly establish its rule in India.
William Fytche | |
|---|---|
_-_Portrait_of_William_Fytche_of_Bengal_1752.jpg) Portrait by Thomas Hudson (1752) | |
| Born | 1716 |
| Died | 10 August 1753 |
| Occupation | Colonial Administrator |
| Known for | President of Bengal |
Biography
Fytche was the youngest son of William Fytche, Member of Parliament for Maldon, and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert Corey of Danbury.[3] He became a member of the Calcutta council of merchants in 1746. In 1749 he went to Murshidabad, to take charge of the factory at Cossimbazaar there.[4] He became President (Governor) on 8 January 1752.[5] According to the Gentleman's Magazine in 1794, he had been in India for 21 years.[6]
Family
Fytche married Lucia Beard on 25 February 1744 at Fort St George, Madras, where he was before being sent to Bengal.[7] Their daughter Elizabeth was heir also to Fytche's brother Thomas, of Danbury Place, Essex; she married in 1775 Lewis Disney, who then changed his name to Lewis Disney Fytche.[8]
Fytche died of dysentery at the age of 35. After Fytche's death Lucia married William McGuire, having a son and a daughter with him.[9]