John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune
| John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune | |
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Born | 1801 Ealing, England |
| Died | 12 August 1851 Kolkata, India |
| Occupation | Pioneer in women's education |
John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune (1801–1851), previously John Elliot Drinkwater, a barrister and law member of the Governor-General's Council, was an Anglo-Indian lawyer and a pioneer in promoting women's education in 19th-century India. When his father added 'Bethune' to his name, he did likewise. In 1849, Bethune founded an institution for women's education in Calcutta (now Kolkata), then the capital of British India. The institute later bore his name and became famous as Bethune College.
He was born in Ealing, son of Col. John Drinkwater Bethune of Salford, who had earned fame as the author of History of the Siege of Gibraltar. A brilliant student, young John was educated at Westminster School, graduated as a wrangler from Trinity College, University of Cambridge, and later qualified for the Bar to secure an administrative position in Parliament. He was proficient in Greek, Latin, German, French and Italian and also earned fame as a poet. In 1848, he was sent to India as Law Member of the Governor General's Council and later became president of The Council Of Education.
This school in Cornwallis Square was established by the late Hon'ble J.E.D. Bethune, for the education of the daughters of Native Gentlemen, and was the first of its kind in Calcutta. The foundation stone of the handsome building which it occupies was laid with great state, in November 1850, by the Hon'ble Sir John Litter, then Deputy Governor of Bengal. The buildings are spacious and admirably adapted for the purpose for which they were designed, and there is a fine residence for the Head Mistress. The pious memory of the founder is perpetuated both by a bust and an oil painting. John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune was counsel to the Home office in England for many years and was appointed Law Member of the Supreme Council in Calcutta in April 1848. Besides his ordinary official duties he undertook the presidency of the Council of Education and took a keen interest in educational questions generally.
...
Wikipedia