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Anderson, David, 1750-1828 (Diplomat, East India Company)

 Person

Staff Only

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:

باششٿه جوگ Bāshishṭah Jūg, 1198 A.H., 1783 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 327
Scope and Contents An exposition of Hindu mysticism of which this is an abridged form. The original translation is by Shaykh Abū al-Faz̤l 'Allāmī', who completed it at the request of Mughal ruler Akbar the Great (r. 1556-1605 C.E.) in 1006 A.H., 1597 C.E.Copied at Calcutta by Shaykh Aḥmad-Baksh of Aẓīmābād (Patna) and dated with the Dated the Faṣlī year 1192 (see dating for A.H. and C.E. equivalents).In the same hand as, and bearing very similar physical features to, Or Mss 328 and 329....
Dates: 1198 A.H.; 1783 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بهاونامه Bhāo-nāmah, 1199 A.H., 1783 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 228
Scope and Contents An account of the third decisive battle, which was fought at Pānīpat, on the 6th of Jumādá II, 1174 A.H. (14th January, 1761 C.E.), between Aḥmad-Shāh Abdālī (Durrānī-Shāh, d.1182 A.H., 1772 C.E.) and the Marathas, when the power of the latter, who were under the leadership of Sadāsheo-Bhāo, son of Chimnāji (and nephew of Balāji-Bājī-Rāo, the Peshwa) was apparently crushed. This account was written by a Hindu (in the service of Nawwāb Shuja' al-Dawlah), who was present at the famous...
Dates: 1199 A.H.; 1783 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بهاونامه Bhāo-nāmah, 1198 A.H., 1783 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 229
Scope and Contents An account of the third decisive battle, which was fought at Pānīpat, on the 6th of Jumādá II, 1174 A.H. (14th January, 1761 C.E.), between Aḥmad-Shāh Abdālī (Durrānī-Shāh, d.1182 A.H., 1772 C.E.) and the Marathas, when the power of the latter, who were under the leadership of Sadāsheo-Bhāo, son of Chimnāji (and nephew of Balāji-Bājī-Rāo, the Peshwa) was apparently crushed. This account was written by a Hindu (in the service of Nawwāb Shuja' al-Dawlah), who was present at the famous...
Dates: 1198 A.H.; 1783 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بهوپال شاستر Bhūpāl shāstra, undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 326
Scope and Contents A collection of Hindu codes intended for the use of kings, translated from the Sanskrit by an unnamed Muslim. The author of the original text is Paras-Rām b. Kishtan-Dīw. Contains a single illustration on fol. 244b. The decoration is unfinished, with many blank space left for illustrations and diagrams. The margins contain numerous corrections and additions that appear to be in the same hand as the main text, raising the possibility that this is the holograph...
Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بوستان Būstān, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 288
Scope and Contents

This is a complete copy of the Būstān of the famous Persian poet Sa‘dī (d. circa 690 A.H., 1291 C.E.). It contains numerous microscopic notes written round the margins.

Transcribed at Faiz̤ābād, 1185 A.H., 1771 C.E.

Dates: undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بوستان Būstān, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 289
Scope and Contents

This is a complete copy of the Būstān of the famous Persian poet Sa‘dī of Shiraz (d. circa 690 A.H., 1291 C.E.).

Dates: undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

پدماوت Padmāwat, 1142 A.H., 1729 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 299
Scope and Contents The stories in verse in the Bhākā language of the loves of Padmāwati, daughter of the Rājah of Lanka or Ceylon [Sri Lanka] and Ratan-Sayn, Rājah of Chittawr (Mārwāra). There is also an account of the capture of the strong fortress of Chittawr, about 703 A.H. (1303 C.E.), by Sulṭān ‘Alāʼ al-Dīn Khiljī (695-716 A.H., 1296-1316 C.E.). The author is (Mālik) Shaykh Muḥammad Jāʼīsī, who composed it in 927 A.H. (1520 C.E.). The copyist gives the year of the transcription of the present...
Dates: 1142 A.H.; 1729 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

تأريخ بابا نصيب Taʼrīkh-i Bābā Naṣīb, undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 245
Scope and Contents

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".

Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

تأريخ بنگاله Ta’rīkh-i Bangālah, undated

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 231
Scope and Contents

A history of Bengal, compiled by the order of Nawwāb Naṣīr al-Mulk Shams al-Dawlah Bahādur Tahawwur-Jang.

Dates: undated
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

تأريخ تيموری Taʼrīkh-i Tīmūrī, 1004 A.H., 1596 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 408
Scope and Contents

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.

Dates: 1004 A.H.; 1596 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia