William Orfeur Cavenagh

Who was William Orfeur Cavenagh?

Major General Sir Orfeur Cavenagh KCSI was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, who governed the Straits Settlements from 1859 to 1867.

Singapore's Cavenagh Bridge is named in honour of the governor. The coat of arms of the Cavenagh family can still be seen atop the signage at both ends of the bridge.

He was the third son of James Gordon Cavenagh and Ann née Coates. He married Elizabeth Marshall Moriarty on 7 Sept 1842 at Dinapore, India and died in 1891 leaving two sons.

Cavenagh trained at Addiscombe Military Seminary, the military academy of the British East India Company. He passed his examination in June 1837 and early in 1838 joined the 32nd Regt. N.I. In 1840 he passed the prescribed examination at the College of Fort William. He was appointed as Interpreter and Quartermaster to the 41st Regt. N.I. He was attached to the Force employed in watching the Nepaul frontier 1840/41.

He was an Adjutant of the 4th Irregular Cavalry and in December 1843 was badly wounded in the Battle of Maharajpore. His leg was severed just above the ankle by a round shot and his horse was killed under him.