Baillie, John, of Leys, 1772-1833 (Member of Parliament, and East India Company Official)
Dates
- Existence: 1772 - 1833
Biography
Hailing from Inverness, John Baillie of Leys entered the Bengal army of the East India Company in 1790 C.E., reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1814. His competence as a linguist led to his appointment as Professor of Arabic and Persian and of “Mohammedan Law” at Fort William College, Calcutta, from 1801-1807, during which time he published a Course of Lectures on Arabic Grammar (1801), and An Entire and Correct Edition of the Five Books upon Arabic Grammar (1802-1805). He also fought during the second Anglo-Maratha War 1803-1805, and held the position of Political Officer at Bundelkhand 1804-1806. In 1807 he was appointed British Resident (Political Agent) at the court of the Sa‘adat ‘Alī Khān, Nawwāb of Awadh (reigned 1798 – 1814), at Lucknow. He held this position for eight years.
On his retirement and return to Britain in 1816 he became a Member of Parliament, first for Heddon in England 1820-1830, and then for Inverness, Scotland, 1830-1833. He was also a Director of the East India Company at various times between 1823 and 1833. When Baillie died in London in 1833 his substantial manuscript collecion was overlooked. It was rediscovered there six years later by Duncan Forbes, Professor of Oriental Languages at King's College London, and subsequently returned to Baillie’s family in Scotland.
His grandson John B. Baillie of Leys bequeathed his grandfather's collection of 166 mainly Arabic and Persian manuscripts to the University Library in 1876. They are also listed in M. Hukk’s A descriptive catalogue of the Arabic and Persian manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library (1925).
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
اخلاق محسنی Akhlāq-i Muḥsinī, 1216 A.H., 1801 C.E.
This is a well-known work on ethics, by Kamāl al-Dīn Ḥusayn Vāʿiẓ Kāshifī, born ca. 840 A.H. (1436-37 C.E.) died. 910 A.H. (1504-5 C.E.).
اخلاق ناصری Akhlāq-i Nāṣirī, 1146 A.H., 1735 C.E.
A famous treatise on ethics, by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī, known as Naṣīr-i Ṭūsī, who was born, 597 A.H. (1201 C.E.) and died, 672 A.H. (1274 C.E.).
تحفة الملوک Tuḥfat al-Mulūk, undated copy (original text composed 11th cent. C.E.)
The work is a short treatise intended for the instruction of princes and rulers, and consists of forty chapters, each containing four different pieces of advice. The author, whose name in this instance is not mentioned, was 'Abd-allāh Muḥammad al-Anṣarī of Herat (d. 481 A.H., 1088 C.E.). From the preface it would appear that the work is a compilation of the wise sayings of old philosophers and statesmen.
منهاج الطالبین Minhāj al-Ṭalibīn, 1146 A.H., 1735 C.E.
A short treatise containing 145 selected pieces of advice in religious, moral, social, and political matters, by Naṣīr al-Dīn Muḥammad b. Muḥammad b. al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī, known as Naṣīr-i Ṭūsī, who was born, 597 A.H. (1201 C.E.) and died, 672 A.H. (1274 C.E.). See Or Ms 95 for more of his work.
موارد الکلم وسلک درر الحکم Mawārid al-kilam wa-silk durar al-ḥikam, undated copy (original text composed 16th cent. C.E.)
A work on ethics by the celebrated Shaykh Abū al-Fayḍ, eldest son of Shaykh Mubārak Nāgūrī, and brother of the equally celebrated Abū al-Faḍl. He was born at Agra, 954 A.H. (1547 C.E.), and on account of his literary talents became a great favourite with the Mughal Emperor Akbar (1542-1605 C.E.).