He also founded the Indian Parliamentary Committee, of which he was the chairman from 1893 to 1900.
Apart from working with influential Indian leaders in Bombay, like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, he also helped publish the journal ‘India’ and attempted to support the Indian freedom movement through British Parliament, which he became a member of in 1893 representing the Liberals. Due to his pro-India role, Wedderburn was denied a judge’s position in the Bombay HC, leading to his early retirement.Īfter his retirement, Wedderburn formed the Indian National Congress along with Allan Octavian Hume, another retired civil servant in 1885 and became its president during 1889-1910.
Wedderburn also supported Lord Ripon’s administrative reforms for developing local self-government and equality to Indian judges. The proposal, which got support in India, was eventually okayed by the India Office of the then British government. He suggested setting up of co-operative agricultural banks to provide credit. During his days in administration, he was known as sympathetic to the cause of Indians. He retired two years later as Chief Secretary to the Bombay Government. Like Yule, Sir William Wedderburn was another influential Scottish political figure, and he went on to become the second foreigner to hold the position of Congress President.Īfter joining the Civil Services in 1860, Wedderburn served in various capacities like Sind’s District Judge and Judicial Commissioner, Bombay Government’s Secretary of Judicial and Political Departments, apart from acting as the Bombay High Court judge in 1885. William Wedderburn, along with Allan Octavian Hume were the founders of the Congress Party but neither of them took any formal role in the party in the beginning. Sir William Wedderburn Sir William Wedderburn (Wikimedia We want half the Councils to be elected, the other half to be in the appointment of Government, and we are willing that the right of veto should be with the Executive.”įrom the Presidential Address - George Yule I.N.C. We want the Legislative Council to be expanded to an extent that will admit of the representation of the various interests in the country, as far as that may be practicable. “Now, gentlemen, I will state more definitely the change we desire. He passed away in 1892, at the age of 63. Yule, who also served as the president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and as the Sheriff in Calcutta, remained a friend and supporting figure for the grand old party, as he continued to advocate the party’s cause as a British Committee member in England. He also helped the 1889 Congress deputation to England, which pressed upon the British public the need for political reforms in India.
It is said that the manner in which Yule conducted the 1888 session, made him an influential and popular figure. of London, and headed Calcutta-based Andrew Yule & Co., was then known in India for his liberal views and sympathy towards Indian aspirations. The Scottish merchant, who was the founder of George Yule & Co. It was Womesh Chunder Bonarjee, the first Congress President, who convinced Yule to accept the invitation to chair the Allahabad session. He was nominated for the coveted post in the 1888 Allahabad Congress, thereby becoming the first non-Indian to lead the party. Yule was the fourth president of the grand old party.