Major-General Sir Thomas Munro KCB, Governor of Madras (1761-1827) in General Officer's uniform, 1819 (c)

Oil on canvas, attributed to Sir Martin Archer Shee (1769-1850).

Thomas Munro joined the Madras Army in 1778, served in the 2nd Mysore War (1780-1784), and became one of the circle of brilliant young men associated with Richard, 1st Marquess of Wellesley (1760-1842), Governor-General of India from 1797 to 1805. In the course of a distinguished Indian career, Munro occupied a series of combined military and administrative posts, and saw active service as a brigadier-general in the wars against the Pindaris and Marathas from 1816 to 1818.

In 1819 Munro spent six months on leave in Britain, during which time he was much consulted on Indian affairs. He was promoted major-general, appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and Governor of Madras. The leave also provided an opportunity for Munro and his wife Jane to sit to Shee for half-length portraits, which were exhibited at the Royal Academy (1820 Nos. 341 and 342). Another, posthumous, full-length portrait was commissioned by Munro's friends in Madras for the city's College Hall, which was also exhibited at the Royal Academy (1829 No. 167). This small painting is probably a preliminary study for these portraits as it remained in the artist's studio until his death.

Munro was most famous as an Indian administrator, especially in advocating the 'ryotwar' system of land tenure associated with his name. By this system ryots (peasant proprietors) paid land tax direct to the state, as distinguished from the large proprietors or 'zamindars'. Created a baronet in 1824, Munro died of cholera on 6 July 1827 during the farewell tour of his districts.