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 9 Collections and/or Records:
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.).
تأريخ بابا نصيب Taʼrīkh-i Bābā Naṣīb, undated
This is a work on history by Bābā Naṣīb, who was a celebrated Sufi saint of Kashmīr (d.1047 A.H., 1637 C.E.). It is also known as the "Rīshī-nāmah" or the "Darvīsh-nāmah-yi Mullā Naṣīb".
تأريخ تيموری Taʼrīkh-i Tīmūrī, 1004 A.H., 1596 C.E.
This is an anonymous abridgement of the Ẓafar-nāmah by Mawlānā Sharaf al-Dīn ‘Alī Yazdī (d. 858 A.H.,1454 C.E.). It is a biography of the great conqueror Tīmūr (Tamerlane) from his birth, 736 A.H., 1336 C.E., to his death, 807 A.H.,1405 C.E..
The section of the manuscript where the date (1004 A.H.) appears is injured, it is bearly legible.
تواريخ مير سيد شريف "راقم" ''Tawārīkh-i Mīr Sayyid Sharīf" Rāqim, 1145 A.H., 1732 C.E.
A chronological account of some of the kings, learned and holy men who flourished, 736-1045 A.H. (1335-1635 C.E.), during the period of Mughal sovereignty in Central Asia, Persia, and India.
توزک جهانگيری Tūzuk-i Jahāngīrī, 1127 A.H., 1716 C.E.
The memoirs of the Mughal Emperor Nūr-al-Dīn Muḥammad Jahāngīr (d.1037 A.H.,1627 C.E.), considered to be spurious, and containing an account of the transactions of the first thirteen years of his reign (1014-1027 A.H., 1605-1617 C.E.). Polychrome triple frames.
رشحات عين الحيات Rashaḥāt-i ‘ayn al-ḥayāt, undated (original text compiled 17th cent. C.E.)
A well-known collection of biographies of spiritual guides of the Naqshbandī order and principally of Khwājah Naṣīr al-Dīn ‘Ubayd- Allāh, by his disciple Mawlānā Fakhr al-Dīn ‘Alī b. al-Ḥusayn al-Wā‘iz al-Kāshifī, better known as "Sāfī" (d. 939 A.H., 1532 C.E.).
عالمگيرنامه Ālamgīr-nāmah‘, undated (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A copy of a detailed history of the first ten years (1067-1078 A.H., 1656-1668 C.E.) of the reign of Abū-al Z̤afar Muḥyī al-Dīn Muḥammad Aurangzīb, the Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr, who died at the age of ninety, 1118 A.H., 1707 C.E.
On thin glazed paper of a variety of colours and has an illuminated frontispiece.
فتوحات عالمگيری Futūḥāt-i ‘Ālamgīrī, undated (original text compiled 18th cent. C.E.)
A history of the Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr from the time of his rise to power to the thirty-fourth year of his reign (1101-1102 A.H., 1689-1690 C.E.).
مآثر عالمگيری Maʼās̱ir-i ‘Ālamgīrī, undated (original text compiled 18th cent. C.E.)
A history of the complete reign of Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1067-1078 A.H., 1656-1668 C.E.). It was compiled in 1122 A.H., 1710 C.E., by Muḥammad Sāqī Musta‘idd-Khān (d. 1136 A.H., 1723 C.E.) who was secretary to ‘Ināyat-Allāh Khān.