Please read the following table in HTML format from a webpage and then answer the question in detail according to the table. Each table cell is defined by a <td> and a </td> tag. Each table row starts with a <tr> and ends with a </tr> tag. 'rowspan=m' and 'colspan=n' represents a cell spaning over 'm' rows and 'n' columns.

Webpage title:
List of colonial Governors and Presidents of Madras
Table title:
Presidents of the British East India Company
Table:
<table id='hittask' contenteditable='False'>
<tr> <th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Name </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Took office </th><th colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Left office </th></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > John Hinde (in Fort David) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 10 September 1746 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 April 1747 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Charles Floyer (in Fort David) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 April 1747 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 19 September 1750 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Thomas Saunders (in Fort David up to 5 April 1752) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 19 September 1750 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 January 1755 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > George Pigot (1st time) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 January 1755 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 November 1763 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Robert Palk </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 14 November 1763 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 25 January 1767 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Charles Bourchier </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 25 January 1767 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 31 January 1770 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Josias Du Pré </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 31 January 1770 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 2 February 1773 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Alexander Wynch </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 2 February 1773 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 11 December 1775 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > George Pigot (2nd time) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 11 December 1775 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 23 August 1776 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > George Stratton </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 23 August 1776 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 31 August 1777 </td></tr>
<tr> <td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > John Whitehill (first time) (acting) </td><td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 31 August 1777 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 February 1778 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Sir Thomas Rumbold </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 February 1778 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 6 April 1780 </td></tr>
<tr> <td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > John Whitehill (second time) (acting) </td><td class="highlighted"  colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 6 April 1780 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 November 1780 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > Charles Smith (acting) </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 8 November 1780 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 22 June 1781 </td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > George MaCartney </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 22 June 1781 </td><td colspan=1 rowspan=1 > 12 February 1785 </td></tr>
</table>
Question:
Who was John Whitehill and what positions did he hold 1777 and 1780?
Answer:
John Whitehill was an East India Company officer who served twice as governor of Madras on a temporary basis in 1777 and 1780.