What is it about?
General Sir Henry Havelock was a hero for the British at the height of the 1857 Indian Uprising. He died having played a leading part in the relief of the Siege of Lucknow and was memorialised with a statue in Trafalgar Square. This book chapter discusses his role as both a military hero but also a leading evangelical Christian, unusual in the senior ranks of the British military of the day. In the light of current discussions about 'decolonisation' what are contemporary Christians to make of such a figure?
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Why is it important?
The chapter tries to offer a nuanced discussion of Havelock as a case study in the often febrile debate about empire and colonialism, recognising the ways in which sincere individuals may be caught up in powerful systems, but may still offer a mitigating presence in the midst of violence.
Perspectives
I hope that this chapter will enable a less polarised conversation in the current debates about colonialism and empire. It is not intended to be an apology for empire, but a plea for greater understanding of how powers and systems play their part in shaping the ideas and actions of individuals.
Nicholas Wood
Regent's Park College, University of Oxford
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This page is a summary of: ‘Where Piety and Valour Jointly Go’: 21st-Century Reflections on a 19th-Century British Imperial Hero, August 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004738485_006.
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