2-982-312 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sir John Lawrence, Bart., G.C.B., Chief Commissioner of the Punjaub, 1858. 'Sir John Mair Laird Lawrence...[who] has recently been raised to the dignity of a Baronet...is a man who has won his way to the highest point of fame by the plain and simple force of native genius, joined to energy and industry, administrative talents of the highest order, and a knowledge of mankind in general, and of the native character in India in particular...in 1849, on the termination of the second Sikh war, the Punjaub was formally annexed...to the British rule, [and] Mr. Lawrence was appointed, together with his brother, Joint Commissioner of that important province..."it was no ordinary task...to exercise authority in that part of her Majesty's dominions, and to endeavour to bring a military people like that into order and subjection. Sir John Lawrence had to organise that Government, and he administered it with so much wisdom that he converted a nation of soldiers into a nation of tillers of the soil; he realised the scriptural blessing-turning swords into ploughshares"...Sir John's salary has recently been raised to the full amount of £10,000 a year; and...a life pension of £2000 a year was settled on him by the Court of Directors'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.