Bill H. Jenkins

National Museum of Scotland

 India (Old Town)  No Responses »
Apr 242018
 

National Museum of ScotlandNational Museum of Scotland, Chambers St, Edinburgh EH1 1JF

From courtly dress to contemporary art, to birds, minerals and fossils, India’s natural world and her culture have been collected by the Museum since its inception in 1854. Scots working as political and commercial administrators, military officers, surgeons and missionaries in India under British rule contributed to the Museum’s mission of collecting art and science worldwide. The examples of India’s manufacture, her ancient history or Hindu sculptures, they sent back to Scotland, represented their interests, involvement in historical events, and Britain’s commercial links. The Museum is committed to reassess for today the significance of these objects of the colonial history of British India.

Courtly dress, Bhopal, India.

Courtly dress, Bhopal, India.

 

Western tragopan, female bird, India.

Western tragopan, female bird, India.

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Bristo Port

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Apr 242018
 

Bristo PortBristo Port, Edinburgh EH1 1EY

Bedlam Theatre is on the site of the old Poorhouse, which included rooms for those who had ‘lost their reason’. Starting in 1792, Dr Andrew Duncan led the campaign for a new Lunatic Asylum. Dr Duncan himself had done one tour of duty to China on a ship of the East India Company. Progress was slow until Parliament granted £2,000 in 1806. Fund-raising began in earnest, with applications to ‘gentlemen and noblemen’ in Scotland and England – and India. By 1814, of the £6,500 raised from individuals, ‘contributions totalling £1,700 were received from Madras, Bombay, Calcutta and Ceylon’.

Andrew Dundan bust in Old College, Edinburgh University.

Andrew Duncan bust in Old College, Edinburgh University.

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The Scottish Naval and Military Academy

 India (New Town)  3 Responses »
Apr 242018
 

SIte of Scottish Naval and Military Academy.Caledonian Hotel, Princes Street, Edinburgh EH1 2AB

The Scottish Naval and Military Academy, founded 1825, trained young gentlemen for the British and East India Company’s forces, and, from 1829, shared with the Riding School a new building on Lothian Road opposite Castle Terrace (now the Caledonian Hotel). From high poetic texts James Ballantyne taught ‘Persian, Hindoostanee and Arabic’, 1832-45 before becoming Superintendent of Benares College. At its peak over 100 students learned things like ‘the chief cities of Hindoostan’ or, like Patrick Lindesay earned an Indian sword for ‘gentlemanly conduct’ and a medal for military drawing. The school was demolished for railway use in the early 1860s.

Portrait of James Ballantyne, circa 1845, by Hill and Adamson.

Portrait of James Ballantyne, circa 1845, by Hill and Adamson.

 

Patrick Lindesay's Indian style sword of honour, awarded for 'Gentlemanly Conduct', 1833.

Patrick Lindesay’s Indian style sword of honour, awarded for ‘Gentlemanly Conduct’, 1833.

 

Robert Pope's Medal for French and Hindustani.

Robert Pope’s Medal for French and Hindustani.

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St John’s Episcopal Church

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Apr 242018
 

St John's ChurchSt John’s Episcopal Church, Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4BJ

In 1818 the growing episcopal congregation of Charlotte Chapel, Rose Street, built a new church, St John’s, on the corner of Lothian Road/Princes Street. Its wealthiest members at the time, Alexander Tod, East India Company captain; his ex-deputy, Thomas Robertson; Alexander Dyce; John  Downie; and Alexander Falconer, all made fortunes in India. A memorial window (number 9) is dedicated to George Swinton, by 1833, top civil servant in India, from where he sent important scientific specimens, from elephants’ eyeballs to first samples of Burma crude oil to Edinburgh. Four of his sons served in India, three dying on active service.

The George Swinton Memorial Window.

The George Swinton Memorial Window.

Memorial to Alexander Bruere Tod, HEICS.

Memorial to Alexander Bruere Tod, HEICS.

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Melville Street

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Apr 242018
 

37 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7JF

The first written mention of curry being eaten in Edinburgh is found in the memoirs of Bombay-born Janet Maughan. A lavish 1830s dinner party or “burra khana” at No. 37 usually had four starters ‘often including a curry’. Janet’s father, Philip Maughan, had served in the East India Company Marine Service, surveying the Gulf of Cutch and also the approaches to Macao and Canton. Later Indian business dealings lost him money, but an Indian curry remained a favourite dish. Sir Andrew Fraser, the controversial Lt.-Governor of Bengal, 1903-08, lived later at No. 58. Both men were buried in Dean Cemetery.

View of No 37's door.

View of No 37’s door.

 

Portrait of Sir Andrew Fraser, 1909.

Portrait of Sir Andrew Fraser, 1909.

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Census on Randolph Cliff

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Apr 242018
 

1-9 Randolph Cliff, Edinburgh EH3 7TZ

This randomly-selected block of buildings, without obvious India connections, is a good example of India links visible in census returns. In 1871 at No 2 lived Hugh Macpherson, four of whose sons served in India: Samuel (political agent); William (lawyer); John (lunatic asylums) and Arthur (High Court judge). At No 3 Sir John Sinclair and his wife Margaret were lodging to attend the funeral of their son George (Bengal Army). Their other son Alexander (also Bombay Army) had already died that year. His two orphans Mary (9) and John (6) were with their grandparents, Sir John and Margaret.

Randolph Cliff sign.

Randolph Cliff sign.

Dr John MacPherson, Calcutta doctor.

Dr John MacPherson, Calcutta doctor.

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Charlotte Square

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Apr 242018
 

22 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DF

Charlotte Square has seen colourful India links. No. 22 was home to Lady Gordon and her granddaughter Jane Cumming, described as a “Dark skinned girl, a native of India” in an 1810 trial: two girls’ schoolmistresses sued for defamation, having been accused of lesbianism. Sir John Peter Grant, judge in India, lived at No. 6. His son, Lt-Governor of Bengal, had published the 1860 play Nil Darpan, criticising British indigo planters. At No. 18 lived Lt-Gen. Alexander Dirom, author of Narrative of the Campaign in India (1794), and at No. 31 resided William Adam, counsel for the East India Company.

Book on the court case involving Jane Cumming Gordon, the 'dark-skinned girl'.

Book on the court case involving Jane Cumming Gordon, the ‘dark-skinned girl’.

 

Front page of Neel Darpan.

Front page of Neel Darpan.

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45 George Street

 India (New Town)  1 Response »
Apr 242018
 

45 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2HT

William Blackwood & Sons, an Edinburgh publisher and bookseller, was based here at 45 George Street 1829-1972. In 1851 William’s son (also William, 1810-1861) resigned from the East India Army, returning to Edinburgh to run the firm until his death. Blackwood’s produced cheaper ‘colonial’ editions of bestsellers especially for India. Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (1817-1980) provided a conservative alternative to the radical Edinburgh Review (founded 1802). Blackwood’s tended to admire imperial achievements in its India articles, the Edinburgh Review was more critical. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, managed by Edinburgh publishing firms from 1768-1901, included many considered articles on India and Indian affairs.

India map by John Bartholomew, Edinburgh publishers.

India map by John Bartholomew, Edinburgh publishers.

 

Blackwood's magazine with an article on The Press in India.

Blackwood’s magazine with an article on The Press in India.

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Standard Life

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Apr 242018
 

Standard Life buildingAberdeen Standard Investments, 1 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2LL

Rugby fans know the Calcutta Cup, originally gifted to a Calcutta rugby club by Standard Life, an example of Edinburgh business’ India involvement. In 1845 Standard Life started to calculate risks of insuring British lives in India for emigrants needing life insurance. By 1903 Indians were insured as well. The reduction in Europeans in India in the 1930s and 1940s led to the business closing by 1946, after 100 years. Impressive Standard Life buildings with their distinctive biblical wise and foolish maidens (Matthew 25:1-13) remain in Edinburgh (look at the top of the building) but also in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The old '10 Virgins' on the Standard Life Building in George Street, Edinburgh.

The old ’10 Virgins’ on the Standard Life Building in George Street, Edinburgh.

 

The 'Calcutta Cup' Rugby Trophy.

The ‘Calcutta Cup’ Rugby Trophy.

 

Standard Life Building in B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata.

Standard Life Building in B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata.

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Melville Monument

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Apr 242018
 

Melville statue

St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2AD

Although not erected for his India involvement, the Melville Column commemorates Henry Dundas, Viscount Melville (1742-1811), long resident at No 5 George Square. It symbolises how he dominated many of Edinburgh’s personal links to India. In 1784, the private East India Company was brought under some government control by a Board of Control, the chair of which for 20 years was usually Henry Dundas. Powerfully involved in India personnel decisions, he sponsored many young men on their India careers, after the sale of offices was abolished, usually in return for political favours and support from Edinburgh friends and clients.

Close up of Melville's Statue.

Close up of Melville’s Statue.

 

Portrait of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Portrait of Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

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