Orfeur Cavenagh, a British army officer in India who served in Calcutta for a period and rose to be general, was born on this day.

He was the last India-appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements.

After arriving in India from England, he passed the required examination from Fort William College, Calcutta, in 1840.

He served in the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry, 2nd Bengal Irregular Cavalry and the 4th Bengal Irregular Cavalry.

He lost a foot in the Battle of Maharajpore during the Gwalior campaign in 1843. He was wounded again in the First Sikh War.

In 1850, he was in charge of the Nepalese Embassy and travelled to France and Britain.

In 1854, Cavenagh was appointed Town and Fort Major of Calcutta. He was responsible for the safety of Fort William during the 1857 Uprising.

He was rewarded with the appointment as Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1859 to 1867. He was made general in 1877.

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