William Orfeur Cavenagh
| William Orfeur Cavenagh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1820 |
| Died | 1891 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Indian Army
|
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars |
First Anglo-Sikh War Indian Rebellion |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India |
Major General Sir William Orfeur Cavenagh KCSI (1820–1891), known as Sir Orfeur Cavenagh, was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, who governed the Settlements from 1859 to 1867.
Cavenagh was the third son of James Gordon Cavenagh and Ann née Coates.
Cavenagh trained at Addiscombe Military Seminary, the military academy of the British East India Company. He passed his examination in June 1837, and early in 1838 joined the 32nd Regiment Native Infantry. In 1840 he passed the prescribed examination at Fort William College, Calcutta. He was appointed interpreter and quartermaster to the 41st Regiment Native Infantry. In 1840–41 he was attached to the force employed in watching the Nepal frontier.
He was an Adjutant of the 4th Irregular Cavalry (Skinner's Horse), and in December 1843 was badly wounded in the Battle of Maharajpore. His leg was severed just above the ankle by a round shot and his horse was killed under him. He was wounded again in January 1846 during the First Anglo-Sikh War, when he was struck in the left arm by a ricochetting round shot. After this he was appointed as Superintendent of the Mysore Princes and of the ex-Ameers of Sindh.
In 1850 he travelled to Britain and France in political charge of the Nepal Embassy under Jung Bahadur Rana. In 1854 he was appointed Town and Fort Major of Calcutta. In this role he was responsible to the Governor-General, the Marquess of Dalhousie followed by Lord Canning, for the safety of Fort William during the time of the Indian Rebellion.
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