!SOURCE: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan
MacLeod Society, 1968, pp. 80-81.
Wa born in 1744, and wa educated at King''s College, Aberdeen, where he
graduated M.A. in 1764, on the same day as his brother, and along with
his brother took a session at the University of Edinburgh. He went out to
Madras [MS. NOTES ON THE MACPHERSONS OF SKYE in the Compiler''s
possession.], in 1768, as purser on the LORD MANSFIELD, commanded by
his uncle, Captain Alexander MacLeod, and remained out there as agent
for the Nawab of the Carnatic. Later on John Macpherson returned to
England to negotiate with the Government on the Nawab''s behalf. At the
end of 1769, he went back to Madras, having obtained an appointment as
a writer on the East India Company''s Establishment there. Dismissed by
Lord Pigot in 1777, he came home, and acted on behalf of Warren
Hastings, for whom he rendered useful service. John Macpherson entered
Parliament as member for Cricklade in 1778. In the following year he
was reinstated in the E.I.C., and in 1781 was appointed member of its
Supreme Council at Calcutta. He succeeded Warren Hastings as
Governor-General of India in 1785, and on 27th June of the following
year was created a Baronet. His ALMA MATER had four years previously
conferred on him its degree of LL.D. He was Lord Rector of Aberdeen
university from 1795 to 1797, and founded two Macpherson Bursaries at
King''s College. Sir John Died, unmarried, on 12th January 1821, when the
Baronetcy conferred on him in 1786 became extinct [Courthope:
SYNOPSIS OF EXTINCT BARONRTAGE OF ENGLAND (1835), p. 128.]. It is
said he was six feet in height, had a fine presence and decided social
gifts, but was a failure as Governor-General. He has been unjustly dealt
with by historians of India, but Professor Dodwell''s publication of
Warren Hastings'' Letters to John Macpherson [Dodwell (ed.): WARREN
HASTINGS'' LETTERS TO SIR JOHN MACPHERSON (1927) (INTRODUCTION, p.
xvi passim).] has proved that the charges of corruption and inefficiency
brought against his methods of government in India were absurd, unjust
and false.