John Woodburn

Sir John Woodburn (13 July 1843 – 21 November 1902) was an Indian Civil Servant, who later served as Lieutenant Governor of Bengal from 1898 to 1902.

Early life and education Woodburn was born at Barrackpore in British India to David Woodburn. After early education at Arya Academy in Bengal, he went to Scotland to study at Glasgow University and Edinburgh University.

Career Woodburn joined the Indian Civil Service in 1863 and arrived in India. He spent most of his early career serving in various positions across the North-Western Provinces and Oudh. After his initial years in Oudh, he became secretary to the government of the North Western Provinces in 1882. From 1888 to 1893, he served as Chief Secretary of the province. During this period, he was also appointed an additional member of the Viceroy's Executive Council in 1980.

He was in 1895 asked by the new Viceroy, Lord Elgin to become a permanent member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, with responsibility for the Home department. During his time in this office he had to deal with the severe famine of 1896–98. The famine especially affected the Central provinces he had just left, and he worked closely with the new governor Sir Sir Charles Lyall to contain the suffering. During his years in Calcutta he worked to contain the plague taking hold in the city and presidency, and took an interest in local institutions in the city, which he preferred to his summer capital of Darjeeling. Woodburn worked hard for the development of jail and health administration of Bengal.

Woodburn died after a short illness at Calcutta on 21 November 1902, and was buried at Circular Road Cemetery of Calcutta.

He was succeeded by Sir Andrew Fraser as next Governor of Bengal.

Family Woodburn married in 1869 Isabella Cassels Walker, daughter of Mr. John Walker, of Drumgrange, Ayrshire, and they had several daughters.