Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, GCIE, KCSI (11 March 1864 – 10 February 1937) was a British colonial official and politician, who served in the Indian Civil Service and as Lieutenant-governor of Burma. He later became a Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) and sat on the Joint Committee on Indian Constitutional Reform as a strong opponent of Indian nationalism.[1][2]

Sir Reginald Henry Craddock
Member of Parliament
In office
1931–1937
ConstituencyCombined English Universities
Lieutenant-governor of Burma
In office
15 February 1918 – 21 December 1922
Preceded byWalter Francis Rice
Succeeded byHarcourt Butler
Personal details
Born(1864-03-11)11 March 1864
Dharmsala, India
Died10 February 1937(1937-02-10) (aged 72)
Westminster
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative Party (UK)
RelationsWilliam Craddock
Alma materWellington College, Keble College, Oxford
Occupation

Life

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Craddock's father Surgeon Major William Craddock had been attached to the 1st Gurkha Rifles; he was therefore born into a family with strong links to the British Raj. He studied at the prestigious Wellington College before going on to Keble College, Oxford. He qualified for the Indian Civil Service in 1882, and two years later was sent on his first posting to the Central Provinces.

Craddock spent many years in the Central Provinces, moving steadily up the civil service ladder. He was an industrious worker and his diligence was duly recognized by the authorities. From 1893 onwards, he held the following positions in succession: Commissioner of Excise; head of the Nagpur District; Chief Secretary to the head of the Province; Commissioner of the Nagpur Division; and finally Chief Commissioner (or governor of the province) in 1907.

He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) in the 1903 Durbar Honours,[3][4] and in 1911 promoted to a Knight Commander in the order (KCSI). In 1923 he was appointed a Knight Grand Commander in the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE).

At the 1931 general election, he was elected as Member of Parliament for the Combined English Universities, and held the seat until his death in 1937.

Titles

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  • 1864–1902: Reginald Henry Craddock
  • 1903–1911: Reginald Henry Craddock, CSI
  • 1911–1923: Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, KCSI
  • 1923–1937: Sir Reginald Henry Craddock, GCIE, KCSI

Publications

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  • Craddock, R. H.; Sharpe, H. (1898). Report on the Famine in the Central Provinces, in 1896 and 1897. Vol. 1. Nagpur: Secreteriat Press – via Internet Archive.
  • Craddock, R. H.; Hutcheson, G. (1898). Report on the Famine in the Central Provinces, in 1896 and 1897. Vol. 2. Nagpur: Secreteriat Press – via Internet Archive.
  • Craddock, Reginald (1924). Speeches by Sir Reginald Craddock, 1917-1922. Rangoon: Supdt., Govt. Printing and Stationery, Burma – via HathiTrust.
  • Craddock, Reginald (1929). The Dilemma in India (2nd ed.). London: Constable & Co. – via Internet Archive.
  • Craddock, Reginald Henry (1930). "The Indian Scene: II. The Report and After". The Nineteenth Century and After. Vol. 108, no. 642. London. pp. 160–168.

References

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  1. ^ Drennan, Basil St. G. (1970). The Keble College Centenary Register 1870–1970. Oxford: Keble College. p. 49.
  2. ^ Prior, Katherine (2012). "Craddock, Sir Reginald Henry". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32606. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  3. ^ "The Durbar Honours". The Times. No. 36966. London. 1 January 1903. p. 8.
  4. ^ "No. 27511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1903. p. 2.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Combined English Universities
19311937
With: Eleanor Rathbone
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces
1907–1912
Succeeded by
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of British Crown Colony of Burma
1918–1922
Succeeded by