Anderson, David, 1750-1828 (Diplomat, East India Company)
Dates
- Existence: 1750 - 1828
Biography
David Anderson (1750-1828) was an East India Company diplomat born in Edinburgh. Both David and his brother James Anderson (1757-1833) were close associate of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), the first British Governor-General of Bengal, Hasting’s inner circle being known for their interest in Indian and Muslim culture and heritage. David matriculated at the University of Edinburgh in 1762, studying Humanities under Professor George Stuart (no graduation recorded). By 1767 he was in India, employed as an EIC “Writer”. By 1769 he was an assistant to George Gustavas Ducarel in (Purnea district), by 1772 he held the position of Factor, assistant to the EIC Political Resident at Murshidabad where he appears to have risen through the ranks over the subsequent years. In 1782 he negotiated a peace treaty between the Marāthās and the EIC, with Madho Rao Pundit Purdhan, in Scindia. He then remained in Scindia as Political Resident until 1785 when he returned to Britain on the same ship as Hastings. He was later a witness for the defence at Hastings’ impeachment trial, and purchased St Germain House (East Lothian).
Upon his death David Anderson bequeathed 113 manuscripts to the University of Edinburgh Library in Persian (104 items), Arabic (6) and Hindustani (3). His collection indicates practical concerns such as the gathering of information on the history of India, and informing himself on letter writing and elegant composition, but also an interest in Persian literature (particularly poetry of a Sufi nature) and some interest in Hinduism. It includes a number of items translated from Sanskrit to Persian.
Found in 114 Collections and/or Records:
آئينِ اكبري Āʼīn-i Akbarī, 1197 A.H., 1782 C.E.
آئينِ اكبري Āʼīn-i Akbarī, undated (original text compiled 16th cent. C.E.)
This is an abridgement of a well-known work detailing the āʼīn, or institutes, of the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great (949-1014 A.H. / 1542-1605 C.E.). The current copy is limited to some of the minor institutes.
اسکندر نامهٔ برّی Iskandar-nāma-i barrī, 1180 A.H., 1766 C.E.
The first part of the celebrated poem of Shaykh Jamal al-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyas b. Mu'ayyad Niẓām al-Dīn, "Niẓāmī" of Ganjah, who was born at Qum, 535 A.H. (1140 C.E.), and probably died 599 A.H. (1203 C.E.), though the dates of his death are variously described, 576-607 A.H. (1180-1210 C.E.).
This section of the poem contains an account of the exploits of Alexander the Great.
اقبال نامهٔ جهانگيری Iqbāl-nāmah-yi Jahāngīrī, 1737 C.E.
This is the third volume of a comprehensive history of the Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahāngīr, continuing the latter's reign from his accession (1014 A.H., 1605 C.E.) to his death (1037 A.H., 1627 C.E.), by Muḥammad Sharīf of Persia entitled Mu‘tamad-Khān (d.1049 A.H., 1639 C.E.).
الآداب السلطانيه والدول الاسلاميه al-Ādāb al-sulṭāniyyah wa-al-duwal al-Islāmiyyah, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
التأريخ al-Taʼrīkh, 1135 A.H., 1723 C.E.
A history of the Prophet Muḥammad and the subsequent Muslim rulers ( Khalīfas) up to 627 A.H., 1230 C.E., which was during the Califate of Al-Mustanṣir Billāh (r. 623-640, A.H., 1226-1242 C.E.), composed by Abū Isḥāq Ibrāhīm b. ‘Abdallāh b. ‘Abd al-Mun‘im Shihāb al-Dīn b. Abī Aldam al-Hamdānī al-Ḥamawī (d. 642 A.H., 1244 C.E.).
السلام والدرود al-Salām w-al-durūd, undated
A collection of fourteen different salutations and ninety-five blessings on the Prophet Muḥammad. Only the last word is altered, otherwise the wording of the various sentences remains unchanged.
الف ليله و ليله Alf laylah wa-laylah, undated copy (earliest version compiled 9th cent. C.E.)
The Ms. contains stories from the beginning of the "Arabian Nights " till the middle of the tale of Qamar al-Zamān, which is the 97th Ḥikāyah, or tale, in Macnaghten's edition, but the wording is very different.
انشای هرکرن Inshā-i Harkarn, 1182 A.H., 1768 C.E.
Models of various kinds of correspondence by Harkarn, son of the Mathurā-Dās Kanbū Multānī, whom Mughal ruler Jahāngīr (r. 1605-1627 C.E.) had appointed Ṣūbahdūr, or governor, of Akbarābād (Agra) during 1031-1032 A.H., 1621-1622 C.E.
انوار سهيلی Anwār-i Suhaylī, undated copy (original text composed 15th cent. C.E.)
A copy of the Persian rendition of Kalīlah and Dimnah, by Kamāl al-Dīn Ḥusayn Vāʿiẓ Kāshifī, born ca. 840 A.H. (1436-37 C.E.) died. 910 A.H. (1504-5 C.E.).
Illuminated Frontispiece.