Sir William Norris, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Norris, 1st Baronet (c. 1658 – 10 October 1702) was an English
politician and ambassador to Aurangzeb
.
, 1688 to 1690 and 1690 to 1695. William succeeded his eldest brother, Thomas, as member for Liverpool in 1695, and held the seat till 1701; he was re-elected during his absence in India, but unseated on petition. He was made a baronet
on 3 December 1698, of Speke
, Lancashire. The title became extinct on his death.
In 1698 the new General Society or English Company (less accurately, the "New East India Company") obtained an act of parliament and letters patent from the crown for the purpose of trading to the East Indies
, and in order to obtain the necessary privileges from the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Sir William Norris, specially created a baronet for the mission, was sent out to India as king's commissioner in a ship of war, at a salary of £2,000 a year, paid by the company. He was expected to obtain the protection and privileges of the Mughal authorities in favour of the new company, in face of the opposition of the officers of the East India Company
(the old or 'London' East India Company), which had been the accredited representative of British commerce in India for a century. The Old Company had its firmans from the Mughal Emperors conferring special privileges of trading.
Norris landed on 25 September 1699 at Masulipatam on the Indian east coast, where he found Consul Pitt of the English Company expecting him. The situation on the ground was complicated by the actions of Sir Nicholas Waite, the English company's representative at Surat
, who had written to Aurangzeb, before Norris's arrival, to request firmans of privileges, and offering to suppress piracy on the Indian seas in return. The English company was incompetent to carry the offer into effect. Niccolao Manucci
excused himself as an interpreter, and Pitt had made no preparations for the inland journey. Norris fell out with him, and sailed on 23 August 1700 for Swally (Suvali), the port on the Indian west coast for Surat, which he reached on 10 December.
Norris paid for an impressive state entry into Surat. On 27 January 1701 he set out from Surat on a journey to the emperor's camp, which was then some way south of Burhanpur
. He was escorted by over sixty Europeans, including his brother Edward Norris
, and three hundred Indians. The route taken across Maharashtra
via Daulatabad
, Aurangabad and Jalgaon was around 470 miles, and took 38 days, with Burhanpur reached on 6 March. While in Burhanpur Norris let protocol stand in the way of meeting Asad Khan, chief vizier to the Emperor. He set off south to meet the Emperor himself, who was engaged in a siege operation at Panhala fort
, and arrived in the vicinity on 4 April. An audience was granted on 28 April, and King William's letter was presented in an elaborate ceremony with many gifts. In the substantive negotatiations, however, Aurangzeb put his finger on the offer to suppress piracy in the Indian Ocean, particularly since it affected pilgrims on the hajj
; while Norris was unwilling to give sufficient guarantees. This point proved the stumbling block, and while both Companies made substantial monetary gifts Norris went away empty-handed, feeling hampered by a lack of expertise in Persian on the part of his interpreter Adiell Mill. He left the camp, which he had followed to Mandangad
, on 5 November 1701. He was then held up in Burhanpur.
In February 1702 Aurangzeb sent Norris at Burhanpur a letter, and a sword for King William, with a promise that, after all, the firmans would be sent. On 9 February the ambassador resumed his journey, and arrived on 12 March in the neighbourhood of Surat. He immediately entered upon an acrimonious dispute with Sir Nicholas Waite, to whose actions he ascribed the failure of the mission. On 5 May 1702 he sailed for England in the Scipio, while his brother Edward and suite embarked in the China Merchant, with a cargo valued at 87,200 rupees on Norris's account, and sixty thousand rupees belonging to the company. At Mauritius
the two ships met on 11 July, but soon afterwards the Scipio parted company, and when she came to St. Helena it was reported that Norris had been attacked with dysentery
, and had died at sea on 10 October 1702. He was married, to the widow of a Pollexfen, but left no issue.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
politician and ambassador to Aurangzeb
Aurangzeb
Abul Muzaffar Muhy-ud-Din Muhammad Aurangzeb Alamgir , more commonly known as Aurangzeb or by his chosen imperial title Alamgir , was the sixth Mughal Emperor of India, whose reign lasted from 1658 until his death in 1707.Badshah Aurangzeb, having ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for nearly...
.
Life
He was the second son of Thomas Norris of Speke Hall, Lancashire, by Katherine, daughter of Sir Henry Garraway. The eldest son, Thomas Norris (1653–1700), was a Whig M.P. for LiverpoolLiverpool (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool was a Borough constituency in the county of Lancashire of the House of Commons for the Parliament of England to 1706 then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885. It was represented by two Members of Parliament...
, 1688 to 1690 and 1690 to 1695. William succeeded his eldest brother, Thomas, as member for Liverpool in 1695, and held the seat till 1701; he was re-elected during his absence in India, but unseated on petition. He was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 3 December 1698, of Speke
Speke
Speke is an area of Liverpool, Merseyside, England, close to the boundaries of the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley. It is south east of the city centre and to the west of the town of Widnes....
, Lancashire. The title became extinct on his death.
In 1698 the new General Society or English Company (less accurately, the "New East India Company") obtained an act of parliament and letters patent from the crown for the purpose of trading to the East Indies
East Indies
East Indies is a term used by Europeans from the 16th century onwards to identify what is now known as Indian subcontinent or South Asia, Southeastern Asia, and the islands of Oceania, including the Malay Archipelago and the Philippines...
, and in order to obtain the necessary privileges from the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Sir William Norris, specially created a baronet for the mission, was sent out to India as king's commissioner in a ship of war, at a salary of £2,000 a year, paid by the company. He was expected to obtain the protection and privileges of the Mughal authorities in favour of the new company, in face of the opposition of the officers of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
(the old or 'London' East India Company), which had been the accredited representative of British commerce in India for a century. The Old Company had its firmans from the Mughal Emperors conferring special privileges of trading.
Norris landed on 25 September 1699 at Masulipatam on the Indian east coast, where he found Consul Pitt of the English Company expecting him. The situation on the ground was complicated by the actions of Sir Nicholas Waite, the English company's representative at Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
, who had written to Aurangzeb, before Norris's arrival, to request firmans of privileges, and offering to suppress piracy on the Indian seas in return. The English company was incompetent to carry the offer into effect. Niccolao Manucci
Niccolao Manucci
Niccolao Manucci was an Italian writer and traveller. He worked in the Mughal court. He worked in the service of Dara Shikoh, Shah Alam, Raja Jai Singh and Kirat Singh.- Storia do Mogor :...
excused himself as an interpreter, and Pitt had made no preparations for the inland journey. Norris fell out with him, and sailed on 23 August 1700 for Swally (Suvali), the port on the Indian west coast for Surat, which he reached on 10 December.
Norris paid for an impressive state entry into Surat. On 27 January 1701 he set out from Surat on a journey to the emperor's camp, which was then some way south of Burhanpur
Burhanpur
Burhanpur is an important city in Madhya Pradesh state, India. It is the administrative seat of Burhanpur District. It is situated on the north bank of the Tapti River, southwest of Bhopal and northeast of Mumbai...
. He was escorted by over sixty Europeans, including his brother Edward Norris
Edward Norris
-Selected filmography:-External links:...
, and three hundred Indians. The route taken across Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
via Daulatabad
Daulatabad
Daulatabad , is a 14th century fort city in Maharashtra, India, about 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad...
, Aurangabad and Jalgaon was around 470 miles, and took 38 days, with Burhanpur reached on 6 March. While in Burhanpur Norris let protocol stand in the way of meeting Asad Khan, chief vizier to the Emperor. He set off south to meet the Emperor himself, who was engaged in a siege operation at Panhala fort
Panhala fort
Panhala fort , also known as Panhalgad, Pahalla and Panalla , is located in Panhala, 20 kilometres northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, India. It is strategically located looking over a pass in the Sahyadri mountain range which was a major trade route from Bijapur in the interior of Maharashtra to...
, and arrived in the vicinity on 4 April. An audience was granted on 28 April, and King William's letter was presented in an elaborate ceremony with many gifts. In the substantive negotatiations, however, Aurangzeb put his finger on the offer to suppress piracy in the Indian Ocean, particularly since it affected pilgrims on the hajj
Hajj
The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the largest pilgrimages in the world, and is the fifth pillar of Islam, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so...
; while Norris was unwilling to give sufficient guarantees. This point proved the stumbling block, and while both Companies made substantial monetary gifts Norris went away empty-handed, feeling hampered by a lack of expertise in Persian on the part of his interpreter Adiell Mill. He left the camp, which he had followed to Mandangad
Mandangad
Mandangad is the northmost taluka in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, India.-Description:Mandangad is the taluka headquarters in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra state in India. The heart of Mandangad is valota.The village is situated at the extreme north of Ratnagiri District...
, on 5 November 1701. He was then held up in Burhanpur.
In February 1702 Aurangzeb sent Norris at Burhanpur a letter, and a sword for King William, with a promise that, after all, the firmans would be sent. On 9 February the ambassador resumed his journey, and arrived on 12 March in the neighbourhood of Surat. He immediately entered upon an acrimonious dispute with Sir Nicholas Waite, to whose actions he ascribed the failure of the mission. On 5 May 1702 he sailed for England in the Scipio, while his brother Edward and suite embarked in the China Merchant, with a cargo valued at 87,200 rupees on Norris's account, and sixty thousand rupees belonging to the company. At Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
the two ships met on 11 July, but soon afterwards the Scipio parted company, and when she came to St. Helena it was reported that Norris had been attacked with dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
, and had died at sea on 10 October 1702. He was married, to the widow of a Pollexfen, but left no issue.