Sir Edward Winter

Edward Winter was the eight administrator of Madras and agent from 1661 to 1665. During his tenure, the English have got permanent rights over Madras.

His tenure was marked by repeated clashes with his members-in-council and the Directors in England. There were numerous allegations against Winter – he was accused of siphoning of 30,000 pagodas in cash, taking several relatives into company service, and death threats to the dubash Thimmanna. He was also accused of private trade by the Factors of the Company who referred the matter to the Directors of the East India Company. The Company responded on these accusations by sending George Foxcroft to seize his office.

After the initial conflicts between the two, Foxcroft was finally restored to his position and is remembered as the first holder of the title of Governor of Madras.

Winter stayed on in Madras and continued to trade privately for the next four years. Then, he decided to return in England and his wife joined him a year later after she collected money owed to him.

Winter died in 1686.