Background
Born at Gloucester Lodge, Brompton, near London, Canning was the youngest child of George Canning and Joan, Viscountess Canning, daughter of Major-General John Scott.
Born at Gloucester Lodge, Brompton, near London, Canning was the youngest child of George Canning and Joan, Viscountess Canning, daughter of Major-General John Scott.
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B. A. in 1833, as first class in classics and second class in mathematics.
His strong common sense and sound practical judgment led him to adopt a policy of conciliation towards the native princes, and to promote measures tending to the betterment of the condition of the people. In the year following his accession to office the deep-seated discontent of the people broke out in the Indian Mutiny.
Fears were entertained, and even the friends of the viceroy to some extent shared them, that he was not equal to the crisis.
But the fears proved groundless.
He had a clear eye for the gravity of the situation, a calm judgment, and a prompt, swift hand to do what was really necessary.
A " secret despatch, " couched in arrogant and offensive terms, was addressed to the viceroy by Lord Ellenborough, then a member of the Derby administration, which would have justified the viceroy in immediately resigning.
Lord Canning replied to the despatch, calmly and in a statesman-like manner explaining and vindicating his censured policy.
In April 1859 he received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his great services during the mutiny.
He was also made an extra civil grand cross of the order of the Bath, and in May of the same year he was raised to the dignity of an earl.
But it was too late.
About a month before his death he was created K. G.
In 1836 he entered parliament, being returned as member for the town of Warwick in the Conservative interest.
