14 Facts About Thomas Rumbold

Sir Thomas Rumbold, 1st Baronet was a British administrator in India and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1770 and 1790.

Thomas Rumbold served as Governor of Madras from 1777 to 1780.

Thomas Rumbold became infamous for his corruption and, for in effect stealing, the ring of the Nawab of Arcot.

Thomas Rumbold joined the company's service as a writer at the age of 16, then transferred to the company's military service.

Thomas Rumbold subsequently transferred back to the Civil Service, becoming chief at Patna in 1763 and a member of the Bengal Council from 1766 to 1769; he was mentioned as a possible Governor of Bengal in 1771, but Warren Hastings was appointed.

In 1769 Thomas Rumbold returned to Britain with a large fortune, knowing the importance of parliamentary influence in the internal politics of the East India Company.

Thomas Rumbold was elected to Parliament in 1770, initially as MP for New Shoreham, a notoriously corrupt and expensive borough where he probably bribed extensively.

Thomas Rumbold received the majority of the votes, but so many were disallowed by the returning officer on grounds of bribery that he was defeated; however, on petition the result was overturned and Rumbold declared duly elected.

At the next election, in 1774, Thomas Rumbold was embroiled in another election-bribery scandal at Shaftesbury: he and Sir Francis Sykes were initially declared elected, but their defeated opponent petitioned to have the result overturned and produced copious evidence of corruption.

However, Sir Thomas Rumbold was responsible for negotiations with Haidar Ali, and was unable to dissuade him from invading the Carnatic or to prevent him from succeeding.

Thomas Rumbold resigned the governorship for reasons of ill health in 1780, and was dismissed from the service of the company by the court of directors, who held him responsible for the Carnatic invasion and the Second Anglo-Mysore War.

Thomas Rumbold supported the establishment of a parliamentary committee of enquiry into the causes of the war in the Carnatic, and spoke repeatedly during the debates that followed.

Thomas Rumbold continued as an MP until 1790, and died the following year.

Thomas Rumbold was buried at Watton-at-Stone, where there is a monument to him in the parish church.