Robert Montgomery (administrator)

Robert Montgomery (administrator)

Sir Robert Montgomery, GCSI, KCB (born 2 December 1809 in Moville, County Donegal, Ireland, died 28 December 1887 in India) was a British colonial administrator in India.

Robert was born at the family seat at New Park, Moville. He was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry; Wraxall Hall School, Wiltshire; and, from 1823-5, at Addiscombe Military Seminary, Croydon, Surrey. In 1827 he was appointed to the Indian Civil Service. He married in India and brought up a family. His second son was Henry, father of Field Marshal Montgomery. Henry inherited the family estate in Ireland after his father's death.

His first notable position was as a commissioner in Cawnpore. In May 1857, at the start of the Indian Mutiny, he was in Lahore in the Punjab, where he was Lieutenant-Governor of the province. He immediately had the native garrison disarmed, which prevented them from taking any action in the rebellion. He was awarded with a knighthood for this action. During the period of 3 April 1858 to 15 February 1859, he was Chief Commissioner of Oudh. He was then the second Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab from 1859 to 1865, preceded by Sir John Lawrence and succeeded by Sir Donald McLeod. He served as Lieutenant-Governor up to an advanced age.