Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Carnac, John

1381398Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 09 — Carnac, John1887Alexander John Arbuthnot

CARNAC, JOHN (1716–1800), colonel, commenced his military service in the 39th foot ('Primus in India'), and, being in India when that regiment was ordered home in 1758, was admitted into the East India Company's service with the rank of captain. In 1760 Camac, then a major, succeeded Colonel John Caillaud [q. v.] in command of the army at Patna, and in the following year won an important victory over the troops of the Emperor of Delhi and a French contingent commanded by M. Law, who with fifteen officers and fifty of his men was taken prisoner. The courtesy with which the French general was treated by the English commander appears to have astonished the natives, who at that time had but little acquaintance with European usages in war. The author of the 'Sir Mutakharin,' adverting to this incident, remarks: 'Nothing can be more modest and becoming than the behaviour of these strangers, whether in the heat of battle or in the pride of success.' Carnac was appointed a brigadier-general in May 1764. In 1765 he drove the Mahrattas across the Jumna. Returning to England in 1767, he was elected M.P. for Leominster. Four years later he was again in India, and rendered effective aid to Lord Clive in quelling a mutiny of the English officers in Bengal. In 1776 he was appointed member of council at Bombay, and, still filling that office in 1778, he was appointed one of the civil committee with the army who early in the following year executed the unfortunate convention of Wargam. For his participation in this affair he was dismissed from the company's service. He appears to have remained in India until his death, which occurred at Mangalore in 1800 at the age of eighty-four.

[Philippart's East India Military Calendar, vol. ii.; Mill's History of India, vol. iii. ; Marshman's History of India, vol. i.]

A. J. A.