Rajkot State

Rajkot State was one of the princely states of India during the period of British rule. It was a 9-gun salute state belonging to the Kathiawar Agency of the Bombay Presidency. Its capital was in Rajkot, located in the historical Halar region of Kathiawar on the banks of the Aji River. Nowadays, Rajkot is the fourth largest city of Gujarat state.

History
Rajkot was founded by Thakur Sahib Vibhoji Ajoji Jadeja in 1620. He was the grandson of Jam Shri Satarsal (Sataji) Vibhaji Jadeja of Nawanagar. The kotwals of the royal palace of Rajkot were Talpada Kolis of Radhavanaj village of Kheda district.

Rulers and administrators
The rulers of Rajkot were titled 'Thakur Sahib' with the style of 'His Highness, and belonged to the Jadeja Rajput dynasty.

Thakur Sahibs

 * 1694 – 1720               Mehramamji II Bamaniaji            (d. 1720)
 * 1720 – 1732               Masum Khan Shughaat-Mughal governor(d. 1732)
 * 1732 – 1746               Ranmalji I Mehramamji              (d. 1746)
 * 1746 – 17..               Lakhaji I Ranmalji (1st time)      (d. 1796)
 * 17.. – 1794               Mehramamji III Lakhaji             (d. 1794)
 * 1794 – 1795               Lakhaji I Ranmalji (2nd time)      (s.a.)
 * 1795 – 1825               Ranmalji II Mehramamji             (d. 1825)
 * 1825 – 1844               Surajji Ranmalji                   (d. 1844)
 * 1844 – 8 Nov 1862         Mehramamji IV Surajji              (d. 1862)
 * 8 Nov 1862 – 16 Apr 1890 Bawajiraj Mehrmansinhji            (b. 1856 – d. 1890)
 * 1862 – 1867               Thakurani Bai Shri Naniba          (d. 1893) Kunverba (f) -Regent
 * 1867 – 17 Jan 1876        J.H. Lloyd -Regent
 * 16 Apr 1890 – 2 Feb 1930  Lakhajiraj III Bawajiraj            (b. 1885 – d. 1930) (from 3 Jun 1918, Sir Lakhajiraj III Bawajiraj)
 * 16 Apr 1890 – 21 Oct 1907 .... -Regent
 * 2 Feb 1930 – 11 Jun 1940 Dharmendrasinhji Lakhaji           (b. 1910 – d. 1940)
 * 11 Jun 1940 – 15 Aug 1947 Pradumansinhji                     (b. 1913 – d. 1973)

British agents and residents
The city of Rajkot became the headquarters of the Western India States Agency in 1924.

Agents of the Governor-general for the Western India States Agency

 * 10 Oct 1924 – 15 Jul 1926 C.C. Watson
 * 16 Jul 1926 – Nov 1926    A.O. Macpherson
 * 21 Nov 1926 – 17 Oct 1927 C.L. Watson
 * 18 Oct 1927 – 18 May 1928 E.H. Kealy
 * 19 May 1928 – 2 Apr 1929  H.S. Strong
 * 3 Apr 1929 – 23 Oct 1929 T.H. Keyes
 * 24 Oct 1929 – 1931        E.H. Kealy
 * 15 Aug 1931 – 1932        A.H.E. Mosse
 * 14 Aug 1932 – 26 May 1933 Courtenay Latimer
 * 27 May 1933 – 13 Oct 1933 John Creery Tate
 * 14 Oct 1933 – 5 Jun 1936  Courtenay Latimer
 * 6 Jun 1936 – 1 Nov 1936  J. de la H. Gordon
 * 2 Nov 1936 – 31 Mar 1937 Courtenay Latimer

Residents for the Western India States Agency

 * 1 Apr 1937 – 10 Oct 1937 Courtenay Latimer
 * 11 Oct 1937 – 31 Jan 1941 Edmund C. Gibson (1st time)
 * 1 Feb 1941 – 14 Mar 1941 G.B. Williams
 * 15 Mar 1941 – 3 Apr 1942  M.C. Sinclair
 * Apr 1942 – Nov 1942 Edmund C. Gibson (2nd time)
 * 2 Nov 1942 – 6 Sep 1944  Philipp Gaisford
 * 7 Sep 1944 – 4 Nov 1944  Cyril P. Hancock (b. 1896 – d. 1990)

Residents for Baroda, Western India States and Gujarat Agency
In 1944 the Western India States Agency was merged with the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency to form the Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency.
 * 5 Nov 1944 – 14 Aug 1947 Residents in Baroda