# Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo

Richard Southwell Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo, (English: /bɜːrk/; BURK; 21 February 1822 – 8 February 1872) styled Lord Naas (/neɪs/; NAYSS) from 1842 to 1867 and Lord Mayo in India, was a prominent British statesman and Conservative politician. He served as Chief Secretary for Ireland (1852, 1858–9, 1866–8) and was Viceroy of India from 1869 until his assassination in 1872.

## Background and education

Mayo was born in Dublin, Ireland, the eldest son of Robert Bourke, 5th Earl of Mayo (the son of Hon. Richard Burke, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore), and his wife, Anne Charlotte, daughter of the Hon. John Jocelyn. His younger brother the Hon. Robert Bourke was also a successful politician. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin (attaining BA in 1844, MA in 1851, and LLD in 1852). He and his brothers were accomplished horsemen and enjoyed fox hunting.

## Political career

After travelling in Russia, detailed in his St. Petersburg and Moscow (1846), Mayo was elected MP for Kildare (1847–52), Coleraine (1852–7) and Cockermouth (1857–68). He was thrice appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland – in 1852, 1858 and 1866 – and in 1869 he became the fourth Viceroy of India where he was locally often referred to as "Lord Mayo". He consolidated the frontiers of India and reorganised the country's finances; he also did much to promote irrigation, railways, forests and other useful public works. To solve local problems he established local boards. During his tenure the first census took place in 1872. He founded Mayo College at Ajmer for the education of young Indian chiefs, with £70,000 being subscribed by the chiefs themselves.

## Assassination

While visiting the convict settlement at Port Blair in the Andaman Islands in 1872 for the purpose of inspection, he was assassinated by Sher Ali Afridi, a former Afghan soldier who had been convicted for murdering a relative. He vowed to kill two British officials to avenge the suffering he had to undergo. Mayo's body was brought home to Ireland and buried at the medieval ruined church in Johnstown, County Kildare, near his home at Palmerstown House. Afridi was hanged on March 11, 1872.

## Memorials
### Lord Mayo March

The traditional Irish march "Lord Mayo" (Tiagharna Mhaighe-eo) was named after him; according to tradition, it was composed by his harper David Murphy to appease Mayo after Murphy angered him.

### Papilio mayo Butterfly

In 1873, the newly discovered swallowtail butterfly Papilio mayo from the Andaman Islands was named in his honour.

### St Paul's Cathedral

A Memorial to Lord Mayo is in the third recess of the South Wall at St Paul's Cathedral, London.

### Statue in Cockermouth, Cumbria

On 19 August 1875, a statue of Lord Mayo was unveiled in the centre of the main street in the town of Cockermouth. The 800-guinea cost of the statue (made by Messrs. Willis of London) had been raised by public subscription. The unveiling was attended by Mayo's son, the 7th Earl; Lord Napier and Ettrick; Harvey Goodwin, Bishop of Carlisle; and the Earl of Lonsdale. The statue, carved in Sicilian marble, depicts Lord Mayo in his viceregal garb, and still stands today.

### Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan

Mayo Hospital is one of the oldest and biggest hospitals in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The hospital is named after then Viceroy of British India, "Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo" also locally known as Lord Mayo.

### Statue at Albert Hall Museum, Jaipur, India

A statue of Lord Mayo had been installed in the premises of Mayo Hospital (currently known as the Mahilya Chikatsalya, Jaipur). The 9-foot-tall (2.7 m) cast-iron statue, weighing around 3 tons, was ordered sculpted by the Maharaja Ram Singh ji of Jaipur, as a tribute to Lord Mayo after his assassination. The sculptors were J. Forsyth and R. Monti. The company's name as inscribed on the statue was R. Masefield & Co., London.
This statue of Lord Mayo had been buried in the premises of the Albert Hall Museum of Jaipur at the time of the independence of India in 1947 to prevent vandalism. After six decades, this statue was unearthed by the Jaipur Mayo Alumni Chapter on 29 May 2007. It was later removed from the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur and sent to Mayo College, in Ajmer, India, where it is now installed.

### Mayo College, Ajmer, India

Mayo College, Ajmer, India, was founded after the death of Lord Mayo in 1875. The College, named in honour of Lord Mayo, already had a full life-size statue of him sculpted in white marble installed in front of its famous main building since inception and a marble sculpted bust of him in its school museum. The College accepted the statue of Lord Mayo which was unearthed at Mayo Hospital, Jaipur in 2007.

## Marriage and children

Mayo married Hon Blanche Julia Wyndham (1826–1918), daughter of George Wyndham, 1st Baron Leconfield, in 1848. Lady Mayo served as Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from 1872, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE).
Lord and Lady Mayo had seven children:
* Hon. Norah Mary (14 March 1850 – 23 May 1851), died in infancy
* Lady Eva Constance Aline Bourke (16 August 1858 – 19 January 1940), married Windham Wyndham-Quin, 5th Earl of Dunraven and Mount-Earl
* Dermot Robert Wyndham Bourke, 7th Earl of Mayo (2 July 1851 – 31 December 1927)
* Captain Hon. Sir Maurice Archibald Bourke (22 December 1853 – 16 September 1900)
* Hon. Algernon Henry Bourke (31 December 1854 – 7 April 1922)
* Lady Florence Blanche Madeline Bourke (16 August 1861 – 18 June 1953)
* Hon. Terence Theobald Bourke, OBE (2 April 1865 – 13 May 1923)
Following his assassination in 1872, Lord Mayo was succeeded in the Earldom and other titles by his eldest son, Dermot.

## Honours and Arms
### Honours

| Country | Date | Appointment | Post-nominals |
| United Kingdom | 1852–1872 | Privy Council | PC |
| United Kingdom | 1852–1872 | Privy Council of Ireland | PC (Ire) |
| United Kingdom | 1868–1872 | Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick | KP |
| United Kingdom | 1869–1872 | Knight Grand Commander of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India | GCSI |

### Arms

Coat of arms of Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo :
* CrestA Cat-a-Mountain sejant guardant proper, collared and chained Or.
* EscutcheonParty per fess Or and Ermine, a cross gules the first quarter charged with a lion rampant sable and the second with a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erect gules
* SupportersOn either side a Chevalier in complete Armour, holding in the exterior hand a Pole-Axe, all proper.
* MottoA CRUCE SALUS (Salvation from the Cross)
* OrdersOrder of St Patrick Order of the Star of India

## Ancestry

Ancestors of Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo :