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:
توزک تیموری Tūzuk-i Tīmūrī, 1118 A.H., 1707 C.E.
This is a Persian version of the institutes, political and military, forming the last part of the pseudo-autobiography of Tīmūr (Tamerlane), 736 -807 A.H., 1336-1405 C.E.). The full work is known by the title Malfūẓāt-i Amīr Tīmūr, it was translated into Persian, from Chagatay by Mīr Ṭālib-i Ḥusaynī around 1047 A.H. (1637 C.E.).
The beginning of the present copy is defective. In the colophon it is called "Wāqi'āt-i Amīr Tīmūr".
توزک تیموری Tūzuk-i Tīmūrī, undated
This is a Persian version of the institutes, political and military, forming the last part of the pseudo-autobiography of Tīmūr (Tamerlane), 736 -807 A.H., 1336-1405 C.E.). The full work is known by the title Malfūẓāt-i Amīr Tīmūr, it was translated into Persian, from Chagatay by Mīr Ṭālib-i Ḥusaynī around 1047 A.H. (1637 C.E.).
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.
جذب رسا Jaẕbrasā, 1186 A.H., 1772 C.E.
A metrical Persian translation of the story of Prince Sayf al-Mulūk and Princess Badī‘ al-Jamāl from the Arabian Nights, by Dīwān-Singh, poetically named "Khāliq" of Lahore.
خلاصة الاطبّاء حميد خانى Khulāṣat al-Aṭibbā-i Ḥamīdkhānī, undated
An incomplete thesaurus of the science of medicine.
خلاصة التواريخ Khulāṣat al-tawārīkh, 1175 A.H., 1761 C.E.
A general history of India from the earliest times to the death of the Emperor ‘Alamgīr (1118 A.H., 1707 C.E.), by Munshī Sujān-Rāi (sometimes called Shujān-Rāi) of Patiyāla, who compiled and dedicated it to ‘Alamgīr, 1107 A.H.,1695 C.E.
Copied at Aḥmadābād.
دستور العملِ خالصهٔ شريفه وغيره Dastūr al-‘amal-i khāliṣah-i sharīfah, etc., undated
دستور همّت Dastūr-i himmat, 1176 A.H., 1762 C.E.
A mas̲navī on the loves of Kāmrūp and Kamlatā, or, as the latter is called for the convenience of the metre, Latākām, by Mīr-‘īsā, better known as Himmat-Khān (d. 1092 A.H., 1681 C.E.).
دقائق الانشاء Daqāʼiq al-inshāʼ, undated copy (original text composed 18th cent. C.E.)
This work deals with the subtilties of style in the composition of both prose and poetry. The original text was compiled in 1145 A.H., 1732-1733 C.E. by Ranjhūr-Dās (also called Ranchūr-Dās).
ديوان امير خسرو Dīvān-i Amīr Khusraw, undated copy (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)
The poetical works of celebrated Persian poet of India, Amīr Yamīn al-Dīn Abū al- Ḥasan 'Khusraw' Dihlawī (d. 725 A.H., 1325 C.E.) The manuscript is undated but and owner's seal indicates that it was extant by 1634 C.E..