John Alexander Bannerman

John Alexander Bannerman
Tomb of John Alexander Bannerman in Penang's Protestant Cemetery
Personal details
Born	5 June 1759 Fort St George, Madras, India
Died	8 August 1819 (aged 60) Penang, Malaysia

Colonel John Alexander Bannerman (5 June 1759 – 8 August 1819) was appointed Governor of Prince of Wales' Island (Penang Island, Malaysia) and Province Wellesley (Seberang Perai) (both forming the settlement of Penang) in 1817^[1] and also Treasurer from 1818.

Bannerman hoped to enter Parliament at the 1806 general election, but despite being prepared to spend £2,000 on a campaign, he failed to find a seat. However, a vacancy was created in early 1807 the resignation of Josias du Pre Porcher, MP for the pocket borough of Bletchingley which was then under the patronage of Rev. Jarvis Kenrick, and Bannerman was returned at the by-election in January 1807. He hoped to find a Treasury borough at the general election later that year, but was unsuccessful.^[2]

He was a director of the East India Company for two periods after 1811.^[3] Bannerman served until his death from cholera in 1819. He was assisted by council member John MacAlister.^[4]

References

1. "London". Caledonian Mercury. 31 March 1817. Retrieved 12 October 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required (help)).
2. Hinton, M. G. (1986). R. Thorne, ed. "BANNERMAN, John Alexander (1759-1819), of Lethendy, Perth.". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
3. C.H. & D. Philips, 'Alphabetical List of Directors of the East India Company from 1758 to 1858', in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society October 1941
4. The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its Dependencies Published by Printed for Black, Parbury, & Allen, 1830; Item notes: new ser.:v.2:(year)1830:(month)May/Aug.