Tucker, Henry St George (1771 -1851)

Henry St. George Tucker was born in 1771 in Bermuda, the eldest son of Henry Tucker (1742–1802), and Frances Bruere (d. 1813), daughter of the Bermudan governor, George Bruere. He attended Dr Hamilton’s school at Hampstead in London in 1781, remaining there until December 1785, when he set off for India. In Calcutta he was received by an uncle and through his influence obtained clerical employment in various government offices. In 1799 he was in Madras acting as military secretary to Lord Wellesley in his battle against Tipu Sultan. He left Madras, returning to Calcutta to work in the accountant-generalship. Many of his decisions were met with disfavour. In1812, he was appointed secretary to government in the colonial and financial department, rising to acting chief secretary. He became chairman of the East India Company in 1826, retiring in April 1851. Two months later in June 1851 he died at his residence, 3 Upper Portland Place, London.

In August 1811 he married Jane (d. 1869), daughter of Robert Boswell, Writer to the Signet, at Caverse, Roxburghshire. Their third daughter, Charlotte Maria Tucker (1821-1893), was an author, who wrote under the pseudonym A.L.O.E. (a Lady of England). He himself wrote several works including Remarks on the plans of finance lately promulgated by the Court of Directors and by the Supreme Government of India, London, 1821; A Review of the financial statement of the East India Company in 1824, London, 1825; and Tragedies: Harold and Camoens, London, 1835.