James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie

Scottish politician and civil servant (1812–1860)

James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie KT, PC (22 April 1812 – 19 December 1860), known as The Earl of Dalhousie between 1838 and 1849, was a Scottish statesman and a colonial administrator in British India. He served as Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856.


The Marquess of Dalhousie

Governor-General of India
In office
12 January 1848 – 28 February 1856
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterLord John Russell
The Earl of Derby
The Earl of Aberdeen
The Viscount Palmerston
Preceded byThe Viscount Hardinge
Succeeded byThe Viscount Canning
President of the Board of Trade
In office
5 February 1845 – 27 June 1846
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterSir Robert Peel
Preceded byWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Succeeded byThe Earl of Clarendon
Personal details
Born(1812-04-22)22 April 1812
Dalhousie Castle, Midlothian, Scotland
Died19 December 1860 (1860-12-20) (aged 48)
Dalhousie Castle, Midlothian
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Spouse(s)Lady Susan Hay (d. 1853)
MotherChristian Broun
FatherGeorge Ramsay
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
Known forDoctrine of Lapse

He introduced the Doctrine of Lapse.Several independent Indian states were annexed under this policy-Satara,Nagpur,Jhansi and many others. Kingdoms like Awadh were annexed using a strategy known as misgovernment.

Lord Dalhousie has made contributions to modern India by constructing railways and roads.He built the first railway line which was between Bombay and Thane.He passed The Hindu Remarriage Act in 1856.