Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet, of Kandy
Sir John D'Oyly | |
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1st Baronet, of Kandy | |
Ehelepola, Molligoda and Kapuvatta with D'Oyly | |
7th Civil Auditor General | |
In office 1 September 1814 – 1815 | |
Preceded by | A. Bertolacci |
Succeeded by | E. Tolfrey |
Personal details | |
Born | 6 June 1774 |
Died | 25 May 1824 49) | (aged
Sir John D'Oyly, 1st Baronet (6 June 1774 – 25 May 1824) was a British colonial administrator.
He was the second son of Matthias D'Oyly and his wife Mary.
D'Oyly had a key role in arranging for the British takeover of the Kandyan kingdom in 1815. Fluent in Sinhala, he was the intermediary between the British Governor and the disaffected Kandyan chiefs who were intriguing to "sell out" the king, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. D'Oyly is credited with drafting the Kandyan Convention of March 2, 1815 which set out the terms of the accession. He was created a baronet in 1821[1] and chose to stay in Kandy, eventually dying there. A Briton who visited Kandy before 1815 had described him as living like a "Cingalese hermit". His earlier association with a woman poet, Gajaman Nona, in Matara led to some speculation.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 17730. p. 1555. 28 July 1821.
Legal offices | ||
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Preceded by A. Bertolacci |
Civil Auditor General 1814–1815 |
Succeeded by E. Tolfrey |
Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
Preceded by New creation |
Baronet (of Kandy) 1821–1824 |
Succeeded by Extinct |