Home > Indian History > History of India > Arthur Oswald James Hope
Arthur Oswald James Hope
Arthur Oswald James Hope served as a British soldier, colonial administrator and as Member of Parliament for Nuneaton. He was as one of the Governors of Madras Presidency.

Share this Article:

Arthur Oswald James Hope, Governor of Madras PresidencyArthur Oswald James Hope, formally addressed as Arthur Oswald James Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour GCIE MC, was as one of the Governors of Madras Presidency from the year 1940 to 1946, in the former undivided India under the rule of the British Empire. He was a well known British politician. Hope also served as a British soldier and a colonial administrator. Arthur Oswald James Hope served as Member of Parliament for Nuneaton from the year 1924 to 1929. Later he served as Member of Parliament for Birmingham Aston from 1931 to 1939. He was also appointed as the Governor of Colonial Madras under British India in the year 1940.

Early Life of Arthur Oswald James Hope
Arthur Oswald James Hope was born on 7 May 1897 in Marylebone in London, England, to the parents James Fitzalan Hope, 1st Baron Rankeillour, and Mabel Ellen Riddell. Hope had 3 other siblings, namely Richard Frederick Hope, Joan Mary Hope and Henry John Hope, 3rd Baron Rankeillour. His father served as a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. Arthur Oswald James Hope studied at The Oratory School and later at Sandhurst.

Career of Arthur Oswald James Hope
In the year 1914, he joined the Coldstream Guards during the commencement of World War I and was promoted to the ranks of Captain. During the First World War, Hope served with distinction in France and was mentioned in dispatches. He was also honoured with the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre. He soon entered public life after his military service was concluded.

Later Arthur Oswald James Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour GCIE MC joined the Conservative Party. He was elected to the Parliament of the United Kingdom from the Nuneaton constituency in Warwickshire at the 1924 general election. On 12 March 1940, Hope was appointed Governor of Madras Presidency in British India. He was preceded by Sir John Francis Ashley Erskine. The Madras Presidency, also known as the Presidency of Fort St. George and Madras Province, was an administrative sub division of British dominated India. The territory included most of southern India, such as the modern states of Tamil Nadu, the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, Lakshadweep Islands, the Malabar region of North Kerala, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangapur and Gajapati districts of southern Orissa and the Bellary, Ganjam, Dakshina Kannada, Rayagada and Udupi districts of Karnataka.

Arthur Oswald James Hope became the Governor of Madras during the Second World War. The province was in a state of emergency when he the last elected government resigned in October 1939. The Quit India Movement began in the year 1942 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Moreover an anti- British campaign was also launched. Arthur Hope enforced censorship of newspapers in Madras Presidency and reporting on internal politics was also monitored. The British administration also imposed censorship on Indian language films. An order under the Defence of India Act was issued in 1943 by the Colonial government that restricted the size of native films to 11,000 feet.

The various battalions of the Madras Regiment were disbanded in stages due to economic reasons and later ceased to exist. Hope tried to revive the Madras Regiment and the Madras Regiment was revived in the year 1942. He was appointed as the first Colonel-in-chief of the regiment.

Arthur Oswald James Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour GCIE MC, retired from the position of Governor of Madras on 26 February 1946. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Foley Knight who served as the Acting Governor. Hope inaugurated a polytechnic college (Arthur Hope Polytechnic) in Coimbatore in 1945. The institute was later renamed Government College of Science and Technology in 1950.

Personal Life of Arthur Oswald James Hope
Arthur Oswald James Hope was married with Grizel Gilmour on 2 June 1919. She was the 2nd daughter of Brigadier General Sir Robert Gordon Gilmour. The couple had had 4 daughters namely Bridget Mary Hope, Jean Margaret Hope, Alison Mary Hope and Barbara Mary Hope. He died on 26 May 1958 at the age of 61 in Surrey, England. the barony passed on to Henry John Hope, his brother, due to the absence of a male heir.

Honours of Arthur Oswald James Hope
Arthur Oswald James Hope was knighted with Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) in the year 1939, prior to his appointment as Governor of Madras Presidency. Hope succeeded to the barony on the death of his father, the 1st Baron on 14 February 1949. He was also awarded a Military Cross (MC).


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.