Robert Palk - Promotion

Promotion

Early in 1749 the chaplain at Fort St David, Francis Fordyce, publicly insulted Robert Clive, leading to dismissal, which resulted in Robert Palk taking his place. This important promotion led to disagreements regarding the seniority of Palk over other chaplains. Palk sailed to Bombay in October 1750 with the intention of resigning his post and to seek formal employment with the East India Company. However, matters were resolved and he was reinstated and returned to Fort St David in March 1751. It was at this time that Palk made the acquaintance of Stringer Lawrence, after which time they remained lifelong friends.

Robert Clive was an army officer in the East India Company and later became Governor of Bengal. He arrived in India almost penniless, and due to his hard work and dedication to the King and the East India Company, he was well rewarded with many opportunities by his mentor, Stringer Lawrence. He later became the first Baron Clive of Plassey and the fortune he made from India was probably a lot greater than Palk or Stringer Lawrence could ever have dreamt of.

In 1752 Robert Palk was appointed to the lucrative position of ‘Paymaster and Commissary in the Field’ to Lawrence’s army. In January 1754 Palk and Henry Vansittart were appointed to discuss the terms of a peace settlement with the French who had control over a large part of India. It took a year before a settlement was finally reached.

It was noted during these years that, according to Robert Orme (a colleague of Palk's in Madras) that ‘Palk had long since given up studies of history and theology and had thrown himself into active engagement with the contemporary affairs of the British at Madras.’

Palk was starting to amass a small fortune, thanks mainly due to Stringer Lawrence putting lucrative deals in his direction, but the directors of the company soon instructed Palk to confine himself to his religious duties.

This did not sit well with Palk and he returned to England. He renounced his vows and on 7 February 1761 married Anne Vansittart, the sister of Henry, his wealthy and well-respected colleague in India, whose family home was Shottesbrooke Park in Berkshire.

While back in England, the East India Company was experiencing various trading difficulties in India. At the Company’s London Headquarters during discussions concerning who might be able to help with the problem, one of the members declared: ‘Gentlemen, you forget, we have Palk at home.’ With one voice the members replied ‘The very man!’ So Robert Palk returned to India in October 1761. He was invited to serve on the Council of the Company, and was appointed to membership of the Treasury Committee. He also served as the Export Warehouse Keeper.

When George Pigot resigned in November 1763, it made way for Palk to take up the post of Governor of Madras. With his new-found authority Palk dived deeper into the world of trade, all the time enlarging his personal wealth.

Palk eventually left India in January 1767 at the age of 50, and was well received by both the King and the Court of Directors on his return. However, returning to England was not the end of his involvement with India. He introduced and was patron to many, who, like him, went with the intention of making themselves a fortune from India.

His nephew Jonathan Palk said this of his Uncle Robert: ‘Rectitude of mind and benignity of heart formed the outline of his character. Uncorrupted by the luxury of the East, he was an encourager of bodily and mental exertion, furnishing his friends with the means not of idleness, but of being active for their own good and the good of society. My father was a little farmer with a large family; for him my uncle bought an estate, which enabled him to live a credit to his mother, and respected by his neighbours.’