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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Scott Monument, Princes Street

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Apr 242018
 

Scott MonumentScott Monument, E. Princes St Gardens, Edinburgh EH2 2EJ

In 1821, Scott wrote: India is ‘the corn chest for Scotland, where we poor gentry must send our youngest sons as we send our black cattle to the South’. Scott’s novella, A Surgeon’s Daughter, is partly set in India and friends serving there helped with details. Family, like brother Robert and cousin James Russell, were in the East India Company; his wife Charlotte received about £40,000 annually (today’s value) from her brother in India. Walter helped his nephew to an Indian position – but discouraged his sons: Walter went to Madras only after his father’s death, and died en route home.

Statue of Sir Walter Scott.

Statue of Sir Walter Scott.

 

Watercolour portrait of Sir Walter Scott's son Walter in Hussars' uniform.

Watercolour portrait of Sir Walter Scott’s son Walter in Hussars’ uniform.

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India Buildings, Victoria Street

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Apr 242018
 

India Buildings.

India Buildings, Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2EX

The name of this building, erected 1864-6, was possibly copied from a Liverpool office block, built in 1833-34 and named by Liverpool merchants celebrating the end of the East India Company’s monopoly on trading with India. The Buildings have a dramatic interior, with a domed, balconied rotunda. In January 1906, Pandurang Mahadev ‘Senapati’ Bapat (1880-1967) is said to have read an essay ‘British rule in India’ at a meeting here of the Independent Labour party. Bapat lost his Indian government scholarship, travelled to Paris in 1907, joined Indian radicals, returned to India in 1908 and became a freedom fighter.

India Buildings plaque.

India Buildings sign.

 

Postage Stamp of Senapati Bapat.

Postage Stamp of Senapati Bapat.

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George Heriot’s Hospital

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Apr 162018
 

George Heriot's.George Heriot’s School, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9EQ

John Borthwick Gilchrist (1759-1841), former pupil and donor of George Heriot’s, went to India as a surgeon in 1782. An early introducer of indigo, and farmer of sugar and opium, he also started the teaching of Hindustani and use of Devanagari letters at Fort William College Calcutta, 1801. Returning to Edinburgh, he joined the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Horticultural Society, the East India Club, and the Scottish Military and Naval Academy. He erected an aviary containing exotic birds outside his house on Nicolson Square. After his banking enterprise failed, he moved to London, taught Hindustani, and died in Paris.

 

Plaque to George Borthwick Gilchrist.

Plaque to George Borthwick Gilchrist.

 

Portrait of John Borthwick Gilchrist.

Portrait of John Borthwick Gilchrist.

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Greyfriars Kirkyard

 India (Old Town)  1 Response »
Apr 162018
 

Greyfriars KirkyardGreyfriars Kirkyard, Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh EH1 2QQ

Of 670 grave plots here, at least 60 have Indian connections. Henry Mackenzie wrote essays against men with Indian fortunes coming back to lord it over Scotland with rubies and fiery curries, but his gravestone mentions three of his own sons who themselves served in India. Famous Latin poet George Buchanan was the earliest Scot to criticise colonialism in India in his ‘Polyonymum’ (1552) and ‘De Sphaera’ (1555). Isabella Hope survived shipwreck off Madagascar in 1792. In 1825, John Adam, acting Governor General of India, died aboard ship in the same seas, according to his memorial in the family mausoleum.

Grave of Isabella Hope.

Grave of Isabella Hope.

Grave of George Buchanan

Grave of George Buchanan.


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Old College

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Apr 162018
 

Old CollegeOld College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh EH8 9YL

The India links of Edinburgh University staff and students started in the 1750s and strengthened in the 19th century. Principal William Robertson (1762-93, mausoleum in Greyfriars’ Kirkyard) wrote an early history of India; Principal William Muir (1885-1903, bust in the Playfair Library), supported Muslim and female education in Northern India. Edinburgh University, long the preferred British university for Indians, has awarded Honorary Degrees to Nehru’s sister and Shah Rukh Khan. In the Playfair Library stairwell are a marble bas-relief of Bombay philanthropist Cowasji Jehangir, friend of Principal Alexander Grant (1868-84), and a painting of wealthy Anglo-Indian and philanthropist Margaret Tyndall Bruce.

Statue of Cowasji Jhangir.

Statue of Cowasji Jhangir.

 

Portrait of Margaret Tyndall Bruce.

Portrait of Margaret Tyndall Bruce in the Playfair Staircase.

 

Pandit Nehru at his sister's honorary degree ceremony.

Pandit Nehru at his sister’s honorary degree ceremony.

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Castle Esplanade

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Apr 162018
 

India Cross.Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh EH1 2NG

War memorials on the Esplanade include one to Colonel Mackenzie (92nd Highlanders) who quelled a mutiny of the 5th Bengal European Regiment in 1859. The events of 1857-58 are commemorated by the large ornate Celtic cross erected in 1862 by officers and soldiers of the 78th (Ross-shire) Highlanders in memory of their comrades. Another mutiny started right here. In 1778, 400 Seaforth Highlanders refused orders to embark for South India. Supplied by Edinburgh well-wishers they barricaded themselves on Arthur’s Seat for a week. Tricked into going to India afterwards, only 390 out of 1100 reached there able to fight.

Memorial to Colonel Mackenzie (92nd Highlanders)

Memorial to Colonel Mackenzie (92nd Highlanders).

 

'72' cipher of the Seaforth Highlanders' in honour of Kenneth Mackenzie, comander at the time of the Edinburgh mutiny.

’72’ cipher of the Seaforth Highlanders’ in honour of Kenneth Mackenzie, comander at the time of the Edinburgh mutiny.

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