Fonds TS - Papers of Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 TS

Title

Papers of Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange

Date(s)

  • 1836 - 1837 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival folder handwritten

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Sir Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange (November 30, 1756 – July 16, 1841) was, from 1789 to 1797, the sixth Chief Justice of Nova Scotia. He became the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Madras and in that capacity was also the first Chief Justice of the Madras Presidency, British India from 1801 to 1817.

Name of creator

Biographical history

Thomas Lumisden Strange (1808–1884) was the eldest son of Sir Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange. He was educated at Westminster School, and on leaving in 1823 went out to his father in India, becoming a writer in the East India Company's civil service at Madras in 1825. Strange was appointed an assistant-judge and joint criminal judge in 1831, became sub-judge at Calicut in 1843 and civil and sessions judge at Tellicherry in 1845. He was a special commissioner for investigating the Molpah disturbances in Malabar in 1852, and for inquiring into the system of judicature in the presidency of Madras in 1859, and was made judge of the high court of judicature in 1862. Strange resigned on 2 May 1863. He died at Norwood on 4 September 1884.

Archival history

The papers were written by Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange and his son, Thomas Lumisden Strange.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The papers were sent by Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The papers consist of a letter from Thomas Andrew Lumisden Strange to Captain Henry Harkness, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send an extract from a letter that he had received from his son, Thomas Lumisden Strange in Tellicherry, (Thalassery) India. Strange asks that the extract be brought before the Council of the Society, if Harkness deems it of sufficient importance. This letter is dated 9 February, 1837. The extract, dated 4 September 1836, is written in a different hand. It concerns the attempt by Francis Rawdon Chesney to find an overland route to India via the Euphrates. Thomas Lumisden Strange recommends that the route should continue to be explored despite the loss of life on the expedition, and believed that the Persian Sultan 'might be induced to farm to us this division of his dominions'.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

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Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here : https://royalasiaticarchives.org/ . The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

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    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    The Council Minutes for 18th February 1837 record: 'Read a note from Sir Thomas Strange. Resolved, that the thanks of the Council be communicated to Sir Thomas Strange for his kind attention.'

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-ts

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        These papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.

        Accession area