Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo, (English: ; BURK; 21 February 1822 – 8 February 1872) styled Lord Naas (; NAYSS) from 1842 to 1867, was a prominent British statesman, colonial administrator, and diplomat. He was a Member of Parliament from the British Conservative Party from 1847 to 1868, and served as the Chief Secretary for Ireland for three terms (1852, 1858–9, 1866–8). In 1869, he was appointed as the 4th Viceroy of India with the political title Lord Mayo. During an official visit to Port Blair in 1872, he was assassinated and was the only Viceroy of India to be killed while in office.
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Background and education
Mayo was born in Dublin, Ireland, the eldest son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo (the son of Hon. Richard Burke, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore), and his wife, Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Hon. John Jocelyn. His younger brother the Hon. Robert Bourke was also a successful politician.
Mayo was educated at Trinity College, Dublin (attaining BA in 1844, MA in 1851, and LLD in 1852). He and his brothers were accomplished horsemen and enjoyed fox hunting. From 1844 to 1846, he also served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland William à Court, 1st Baron Heytesbury.
Political career
From June to August 1845, Mayo travelled to Russia visiting the court of Nicholas I of Russia. He detailed his travels in a written account, published as St. Petersburg and Moscow (1846). He also visited Revel and Finland before returning home.
Mayo was elected a MP for three different constituencies over his lifetime. He served as MP for Kildare (1847–52), Coleraine (1852–7) and Cockermouth (1857–68).
He was thrice appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland – in 1852, 1858 and 1866. While Chief Secretary in Ireland, he led government efforts to stop clandestine activity and the operation of secret nationalist societies, including the Phoenix National and Literary Society and others.
In 1867, he succeeded his father as Earl of Mayo (but as an Irish peer was able to retain his seat in the commons) until he gave up his seat in 1868 on appointment as Viceroy of India.
Viceroy of India
On 12 January 1869 he arrived in Calcutta and became the fourth Viceroy of India replacing John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence. He consolidated the frontiers of India and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. To solve local problems he established local boards. During his tenure the first census took place in 1872. He founded Mayo College at Ajmer for the education of young Indian chiefs, with £70,000 being subscribed by the chiefs themselves.
Assassination
While visiting the convict settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands on 8 February 1872 for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali Afridi, a former Afghan soldier who had been convicted for murdering a relative. He vowed to kill two British officials to avenge the suffering he had to undergo. Mayo's body was brought home to Ireland and buried at the medieval ruined church in Johnstown, County Kildare, near his home at Palmerstown House. Afridi was hanged on March 11, 1872. On his death, John Stracey served as acting Viceroy of India.
Memorials
Lord Mayo March
The traditional Irish march "Lord Mayo" (Tiagharna Mhaighe-eo) was named after him; according to tradition, it was composed by his harper David Murphy to appease Mayo after Murphy angered him.
Papilio mayo Butterfly
In 1873, the newly discovered swallowtail butterfly Papilio mayo from the Andaman Islands was named in his honour.
St Paul's Cathedral
A Memorial to Lord Mayo is in the third recess of the South Wall at St Paul's Cathedral, London.
Statue in Cockermouth, Cumbria
On 19 August 1875, a statue of Lord Mayo was unveiled in the centre of the main street in the town of Cockermouth. The 800-guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription. The unveiling was attended by Mayo's son, the 7th Earl; Lord Napier and Ettrick; Harvey Goodwin, Bishop of Carlisle; and the Earl of Lonsdale. The statue, carved in Sicilian marble, depicts Lord Mayo in his viceregal garb, and still stands today.
Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Mayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The hospital is named after then Viceroy of British India, "Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo" also locally known as Lord Mayo.
Statue at Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur, India
A statue of Lord Mayo had been installed in the premises of Mayo Hospital (currently known as the Mahilya Chikatsalya, Jaipur). The 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) cast-iron statue, weighing around 3 tons, was ordered sculpted by the Maharaja Ram Singh ji of Jaipur, as a tribute to Lord Mayo after his assassination. The sculptors were J. Forsyth and R. Monti. The company's name as inscribed on the statue was R. Masefield & Co., London.
This statue of Lord Mayo had been buried in the premises of the Albert Hall Museum of Jaipur at the time of the independence of India in 1947 to prevent vandalism. After six decades, this statue was unearthed by the Jaipur Mayo Alumni Chapter on 29 May 2007. It was later removed from the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur and sent to Mayo College, in Ajmer, India, where it is now installed.
Mayo College, Ajmer, India
Mayo College, Ajmer, India, was founded after the death of Lord Mayo in 1875. The College, named in honour of Lord Mayo, already had a full life-size statue of him sculpted in white marble installed in front of its famous main building since inception and a marble sculpted bust of him in its school museum. The College accepted the statue of Lord Mayo which was unearthed at Mayo Hospital, Jaipur in 2007.
Mayo Hall, Bengaluru, India
Mayo Hall is a building located in the center of Bengaluru. It was built in 1883 to honor the memory of Richard Bourke.
Marriage and children
Mayo married Hon Blanche Julia Wyndham (1826–1918), daughter of George Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield, in 1848. Lady Mayo served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1872, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE).
Lord and Lady Mayo had seven children:
Hon. Norah Mary (14 March 1850 – 23 May 1851), died in infancy
Lady Eva Constance Aline Bourke (16 August 1858 – 19 January 1940), married Windham Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
Dermot Robert Wyndham Bourke, 7th Earl of Mayo (2 July 1851 – 31 December 1927)
Captain Hon. Sir Maurice Archibald Bourke (22 December 1853 – 16 September 1900)
Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke (31 December 1854 – 7 April 1922)
Lady Florence Blanche Madeline Bourke (16 August 1861 – 18 June 1953)
Hon. Terence Theobald Bourke, OBE (2 April 1865 – 13 May 1923)
Following his assassination in 1872, Lord Mayo was succeeded in the Earldom and other titles by his eldest son, Dermot.