Dictionary of Indian Biography/Amherst of Arakan, William Pitt, first Earl
AMHERST OF ARAKAN, WILLIAM PITT, FIRST EARL (1773–1857)
Governor-General : born in Jan. 1773 : sent on an embassy to China in 1816 : arrived in Calcutta as Governor-General, Aug. 1, 1823 : it devolved on him to allay the excitement caused by the action of the Government towards the Press and Mr. J. S. Buckingham (q.v.) In Feb., 1824, the Burmese having occupied countries near Bengal and attacked British territory, Amherst declared war and despatched an expedition, which captured Rangoon, Martaban and Prome : peace was made by the treaty of Yandaboo, 1826, by which Assam and Tenasserim were ceded to the British. In Jan., 1826, the capture of Bhartpur by Lord Combermere took place, when the British Government restored the youthful Raja Balwant Singh, whom Government had recognized, to the throne, which had been seized by a cousin, Durjan Sal. Lord Amherst was made an Earl. He was the first Governor-General to spend, in 1827, the summer in Simla : left India March 10, 1828 : died March 13, 1857.