Robert Short (30 December 1783 – 1859) was a lieutenant-colonel in the 21st Madras Native Infantry,

Honourable East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

. He later became 54th Lord of the Manor of Solihull.

Early years

Short was born on 30 December 1783 in

Solihull Solihull ( ) is a market town and the administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. Solihull is situated on the River Blythe in the Arden, Warwickshire, Forest of Arden ar ...

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...

. He was born to John and Jane Short, née Mashiter. John Short was a well-known and respected surgeon in

and Jane was from an aristocratic family on her mother's side. Thus, Robert Short had a comfortable childhood and enjoyed the way of life that

and the surrounding area afforded him; 'Urbs in rure' (''town in the country'') is the town's motto. Short was educated at

Solihull School Solihull School is a coeducational private day school in Solihull, West Midlands, England. Founded in 1560, it is the oldest school in the town and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. History In 1560 the revenu ...

with his five brothers. He was well known within the school even prior to his acceptance. His maternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Mashiter, had been Headmaster until 1769 and his father was a

Feoffee Under the feudal system in England, a feoffee () is a trustee who holds a fief (or "fee"), that is to say an estate in land, for the use of a beneficial owner. The term is more fully stated as a feoffee to uses of the beneficial owner. The use ...

; a position he held for 57 years. The young Short is said to have enjoyed his days at

and always showed sporting talent.

Career

Following

Short joined the Army of the

and achieved the rank of lieutenant-colonel in the 21st Madras Native Infantry at a high point in the

Company rule in India Company rule in India (also known as the Company Raj, from Hindi , ) refers to regions of the Indian subcontinent under the control of the British East India Company (EIC). The EIC, founded in 1600, established its first trading post in India ...

. He retired as an Honorary Colonel on 9 September 1830. He was offered another job by the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...

in India although upon his return to England he married Mary Astle in 1835 and so wanted to remain in the marital home. He took several jobs as a Justice of the Peace in 1838 and served for a 20-year period. He was also elected to the position of Guardian of the Poor Law Union and then as its chairman. During his career he commended

to traders and his fellow officers resulting in an increase in reputation of the school.

Latter years

He purchased the Lordship of the Manor of Solihulli in 1850 to become 54th Lord of the Manor. He died in 1859 aged 75 and was buried at St Alphege on 2 July. Under his will the Lordship of the Manor passed to the Rev. John Couchman, eldest son of his sister Elizabeth. The Couchmans, who still live locally, remain Lords of the Manor. The Manor House, renamed Manor Cottage, passed to Robert's younger brother, Tomas who was Deputy Master at

Rugby School Rugby School is a Public school (United Kingdom), private boarding school for pupils aged 13–18, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire in England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independ ...

having been beaten to the Headmastership by one Dr

Thomas Arnold Thomas Arnold (13 June 1795 – 12 June 1842) was an English educator and historian. He was an early supporter of the Broad Church Anglican movement. As headmaster of Rugby School from 1828 to 1841, he introduced several reforms that were widel ...

References

* http://www.archerfamily.org.uk/family/short.htm * http://www.solihull.gov.uk/akssolihull/images/att2450.doc {{DEFAULTSORT:Short, Robert (Officer) 1783 births 1859 deaths People from Solihull British East India Company Army officers People educated at Solihull School