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

 India (New Town)  No Responses »
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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Wellington Statue

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Apr 242018
 

Waverley Gate

Wellington Statue, 2 Princes St, Edinburgh EH1 3YY

This major traffic intersection provided access to armed forces offices in Register House, and was an important area for ‘old India hands’. In John Bayll’s tavern, now site of the Waverleygate building, the East India Club was founded in 1797. In 1799, they contributed 20 guineas to survivors of a fire in the Cowgate and in 1801, 50 guineas to a house of industry. Opposite, at 10 Princes Street, Poole’s Coffee House, was the local of military men, including veterans of Indian campaigns, such as Seringapatam and Assaye, led by Lord Wellington (1769-1852), whose equestrian statue still dominates the area.

The Wellington Statue in front of Register House.

The Wellington Statue in front of Register House.

 

Shakespeare Square and Princes Street by John Le Conte, 1857.

Shakespeare Square and Princes Street by John Le Conte, 1857.

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Portuguese Cannon on Calton Hill

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Apr 242018
 

Location of Portuguese CanonCalton Hill, Edinburgh EH7 5AA

The ‘Portuguese Cannon’ tells several chapters of European expansion. Bearing a Spanish royal coat of arms – Spain ruled Portugal at the time- it was sent out in the 17th century for service in the Portuguese Indies, stretching from Mozambique to Macao. The cannon then got into the hands of the rulers of the Arakan (west coast of today’s Burma/Myanmar) from where in 1785, according to the Burmese inscription, it was taken to Mandalay. In 1885, Upper Burma fell to British forces and the cannon was exhibited at the Edinburgh Fair of 1886 and after that, taken to Calton Hill.

View of Spanish Coat of Arms and the Burmese Inscription.

View of Spanish Coat of Arms and the Burmese Inscription.

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Royal High School, Regent Road

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Apr 242018
 

Royal High School

New Parliament House, 5-7 Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH7 5BL

The dominant secondary school in Edinburgh until 1824, the Royal High School’s list of former pupils engaging with India is too long to recount, but included David Yule (1858–1928), Calcutta merchant and industrialist, ‘Empire’s Richest Man’. In the 18th and 19th centuries probably about the Edinburgh schools’ average of 10% of alumni went out, enough for Royal High School clubs in India and Malaya. Many of these men donated trophies, prizes and scholarships for sporting, or academic brilliance to the school, such as the India Prize given annually by a Calcutta newspaper editor for best essay on Indian culture.

Portrait of David Yule, RHS FP and Calcutta businessman.

Portrait of David Yule, RHS FP and Calcutta businessman.

 

The Art Room before the First World War.

The Art Room before the First World War.

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Burns Monument, Regent Road

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Apr 242018
 

Burns Monument

Burns Monument, 1759 Regent Rd, Edinburgh EH7

The idea to erect a monument to Burns was first proposed by John Forbes-Mitchell of Thainstone, Aberdeen, in Bombay in 1812. Expatriates raised a ‘considerable sum’ (£27,500, 2018 prices) and John raised more when he was back in Britain. A committee was formed with the Duke of Atholl as Chair, in 1819 at the London Freemason’s Tavern. Three of its members made their money in India: George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith; Charles Forbes, head of Forbes & Co. of Bombay; and his relative, John Forbes-Mitchell. Thomas Hamilton, the architect, also designed the Alloway Burns Monument and the Royal High School (opposite).

Inside the Burns Monument.

Inside the Burns Monument.

 

The original Burns Statue by Flaxman, now in the Portrait Gallery in Queen Street.

The original Burns Statue by Flaxman, now in the Portrait Gallery in Queen Street.

 

John Forbes-Mitchell of Thainstane, 1820s.

John Forbes-Mitchell of Thainstane, 1820s.

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Former Forsyth’s ‘Foreign & Colonial’ outfitters

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Apr 242018
 

Old Forsyth's building

30 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2BY

‘Foreign and Colonial Outfitters’ a sign on the former Forsyth’s store speaks of Edinburgh’s Indian retail trade. Oriental carpets, rhododendrons or cashmere underwear were well expected imports, as were Melrose’s Teas (93 George Street). An Edwardian trade directory listed over 50 Edinburgh businesses exporting goods to India. India Pale Ale (see Oxford Bar’s window, Young Street), whisky and clothes, hats, boots, saddles, pulpit robes and “St Bernard’s Starch Enamel”, ‘regularly received’ orders from even ‘the highest circles in India’. More unexpected sales were stained glass, bullock weighing machines for bazaars, and ‘Edinburgh Shortbread sent in 1904 to Thibet’.

Forsyth's Globe.

Forsyth’s Globe.

 

Foreign & Colonial outfitters sign.

Foreign & Colonial outfitters sign.

 

IPA Window at the Oxford Bar, 8 Young Street, EH2 4JB.

IPA Window at the Oxford Bar, 8 Young Street, EH2 4JB.

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The Scottish National Gallery

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Apr 242018
 

National Gallery

Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, Edinburgh EH2 2EL

The Gallery does not have an ‘India’ category in its collection, but over the last 120 years, over 600 India-related objects have been acquired: 17th century etchings; 18th century topographical drawings; portraits and photographs of Scots who have left their mark on Indian history; and the work of modern and contemporary artists. Examples include Willison’s impressive full-length oil portrait of his patron, Mohammed Ali, Nawab of Arcot; displayed are Wilkie’s towering portrait of Major-General Sir David Baird at Seringapatam – a text-book image for the fourth Mysore campaign of 1799; and the portrait of Patrick Moir, Sheriff of Calcutta in 1810.

The David Baird painting and bust in the National Gallery.

The David Baird painting and bust in the National Gallery.

 

Portrait of Patrick Moir in the National Gallery.

Portrait of Patrick Moir in the National Gallery.

 

Picture of Nawab of Arcot at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, currently in storage.

Picture of Nawab of Arcot at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, currently in storage.

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The Royal Society of Edinburgh

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Apr 242018
 

Royal Society of Edinburgh

The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ

The RSE, created in 1783 for “the advancement of learning and useful knowledge” moved into this building in 1909. About 240 of its Fellows worked in India, including Sir Ronald Ross, who documented the link between mosquitoes and malaria, and Viceroy Lord Linlithgow. About 40 Fellows had Indian names, the earliest being educator, jurist, barrister and mathematician Asutosh Mukhopâdhyay in 1886. Several fellows gave the RSE Indian materials. Notably, Frances Simpson in 1819 gave four sculptures from Bihar/Bengal. George Swinton, in 1827, gave three Burmese sculptures; the head of a dugong; snakes; corals; an alligator and many other items.

Letterbox of Royal Society.

Letterbox of Royal Society.

 

Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee.

Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee.

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