Herbert Thirkell White

Who was Herbert Thirkell White?

Sir Herbert Thirkell White KCIE CSI was the Lieutenant Governor of the British Indian province of Burma and the author of several books on Burma, the best known of which is the classic, A Civil Servant in Burma, which is based on the 32 years he spent as a civil servant in that province. White also authored the fourth volume Burma of the four volume series "Provincial Geographies of India" which was published between 1913-23 from the Cambridge University Press under the editorship of Thomas Henry Holland.

The son of Richard White, he was educated at Dulwich College and Brasenose College, Oxford. White joined I.C.S., served in all lower grades of the public service and was posted as Commissioner, Burma-China Boundary, 1897; appointed Chief Judge of the Chief Court, Burma, 1900; Lieut.-Governor, Burma, 1905–1910. During his time as Lieutenant Governor, he reduced the amount of the annual tributes from the Shan Chiefs and promoted education among them and carried out certain Railway Extensions in the Shan States.

He married Fannie Sophia Hawes, daughter of Captain William Hawes, Indian Navy in 1877.