Thumboo Chetty was born in April 1837, to a Catholic family, apparently in Trichinopoly. His father, Desayi Royalu Chetti Garu filled the responsible post of Chief Book-keeper in a Mercantile Firm, Griffith's and Co., and was highly respected in the native Christian community in Madras. His mother was Catherine Ummah, a woman of piety, mildness, courtesy and serenity. He spent his early life in the Black Town, later called George Town, Madras. After his primary education in Madras, where he was taught in the Southern vernaculars Telugu and Tamil, he received his education in English in the famous Free Church Mission Institution, which was later renamed Madras Christian College.
He was the sixth child in his family; he had three elder sisters and one younger brother and a sister, all of whom lived long enough to see his progress and advancement. It is said that his mother prophesied at his birth, "The sixth, being male, will rise to be a great man and rule over people". He had, however, the misfortune to lose both his parents at the early age of twelve. He was brought up, however, with great care and attention, by no less than five executors, to whom the probate of his mother's will was granted by the Madras High Court, the principal of whom, afterwards, became his father-in-law.
Thumboo Chetty married Rajamma, daughter of Ponnoo Chettiar and Sinnammalle, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Refuge, Pophan’s Broadway, Madras. The couple had four sons: T. Rayaloo Chetty, T. Dharma Raj Chetty, T. Sathya Raj Chetty, and T. Thumboo Chetty; and four daughters: Amarapatty Amma, Sathiavathy Amma, Dhanavathy Amma, and Baghavathy Amma.
His granddaughter (daughter of Sir T. Thumboo Chetty) was the world-renowned violinist Philomena Thumboochetty.
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