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Title:

Slacke, Francis Alexander: Indian Civil Service
Century: 
C20
Location: 
Budleigh Salterton
Description: 

Francis Slacke lived at “Journey’s End” in Fore Street from about 1928 until his death in 1940 (1) and was one of many ex-colonials who retired to the town.  He was born in Jersey in 1853 the third son of Thomas Trevitt Slack and his wife Hester (née Orme).  He went to school at Blundell’s in Tiverton and then in Taunton.  He graduated B.A. from St. John’s College Cambridge in 1875 (2) and was admitted at the Inner Temple the same year.  

He joined the Indian Civil Service in December 1876 and served extensively in Bengal (2,3) where he was successively:-  

  • Assistant Magistrate and Collector, Settlement Officer of Wards and Attached Estates in Chota Nagpur 1888 
  • Commandant in Chittagong 1890
  • Magistrate & Collector for Bengal from 1892
  • Secretary to the Board of Revenue, 1896
  • Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, Lower Provinces, Bengal 1906
  • Acting Lieutenant Governor of Bengal 1906
  • Chairman Calcutta Port Commissioners 1906
  • Fellow of Calcutta University 1907
  • President of Board of Examiners 1908
  • President of the Fisheries Advisory Committee 1908
  • Vice-President of Bengal Legislative Council, 1910
  • Vice-President of Bengal Executive Council, 1911  

During his stay he also became involved in military activities, being Major Commandant Chota Nagpur Mounted Rifles 1902-5, Major Calcutta Light Horse 1905-8 and Major Commandant Chota Nagpur.  As he had civil service duties I assume these were part time yeomanry units.  

He was awarded the C.S.I. in 1908 and retired from the Service in 1912. 

He had married Caroline Cave in 1879. She was the daughter of Thomas Cave, M.P. for Barnstaple, and the sister of Viscount Cave (Home Secretary under David Lloyd George from 1916 to 1919 and Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1922 to 1928) and of the diplomat Sir Basil Cave CB, KCMG.  

Francis and Caroline had two sons, Clulow Orme Slacke born 1880, who became Assistant Accountant-General, India, and was a temporary Captain 13th Battalion East Surrey Regiment when killed in action in 1916, and George Cave Slacke born 1884, a Major in the Indian Army. 

Francis Slacke died on August 8th 1940.  His wife continued to live at “Journey’s End” for a while then moved to West Hill until her death at the age of 96 in January 1948. 

Researched and Written by Roger Lendon © 2013 

(1) Obituary: Friday 16 August 1940, Exeter and Plymouth Gazette

(2) Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900

(3) The India List and India Office List for 1906  

 

BS-B-00062 Biography 155 any