James La Touche
Irish civil servant (1844–1921)
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Sir James John Digges La Touche, KCSI (16 December 1844 – 5 October 1921) was an Irish civil servant in British India, where he spent most of his career in the North-Western Provinces.
16 December 1844
Sir James La Touche | |
|---|---|
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| Born | James John Digges La Touche 16 December 1844 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 5 October 1921 (aged 76) Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation | Colonial administrator in British India |
| Spouse | Julia Mary Rothwell |
Early life and education
La Touche was born in Dublin, the son of William Digges La Touche and Louisa L'Estrange. He was of French Huguenot ancestry.[1] He was educated at Trinity College Dublin.[2]
Career in India
He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1867, and spent four years in Ajmir Province and four years in Upper Burma, before moving to the North-Western Provinces. In that province he served as a member of the Board of Revenue and Chief Secretary, and in 1897 acted as Lieutenant-Governor for six months, after the breakdown in health of Sir Anthony MacDonnell following the combat with the famine that year.[3]
He was a Member of the Council of the Viceroy of India, and was in November 1901 appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the North-Western Provinces and Chief Commissioner of Oudh.[3] In March 1902 the province was renamed the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, and the former commissionership was abolished. La Touche continued as Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh until December 1906.
The following year he was appointed a Member of the Council of the Secretary of State for India.[4]
La Touche was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) in the 1896 New Year Honours list on 1 January 1896, and promoted to a Knight Commander (KCSI) in the 1901 Birthday Honours list on 9 November 1901.[5]
Latouche Road in Kanpur and Latouche Road in Lucknow are named in his honour.
He retired in 1906 and returned to Ireland.[6]
Family
La Touche married, in Bombay in 1873, Julia Mary Rothwell, daughter of Thomas Wade Rothwell.[7] They had one child, Louisa France "Lola" Digges La Touche (1879 – 31 March 1884), who died age 5 on the steamship Assam returning from India.[8]
He died at his home, 53 Raglan Road, Dublin, aged 77.[6]