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:
طلسم حيرت Ṭilsim-i ḥayrat, undated copy (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
Frontispiece illuminated.
طور معرفت Ṭūr-i ma‘rifat, undated
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
ظفرنامه Ẓafar-nāmah, undated copy (original text composed 15th cent. 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.
عجائب التجويد Ajā’ib al-tajwīd‘, undated
A short treatise on the correct reading, reciting, etc., of the Qur’ān. The subject is treated in nineteen chapters, and these are enumerated on fols. 3a-4a. The author is ‘Ibād-allāh.
عرفان Irfān‘, undated copy (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
عشق نامه Ishq-nāmah‘, 1161 A.H., 1748 C.E.
A mas̲navī by Mirzā ‘Abd al-Qādir Astarābādī, poetically styled "Bīdil" (d. 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.).
Frontispiece illuminated with gold.
عصمت نامه Iṣmat-nāmah', 1066 A.H, 1655 C.E.
The story, in the form of a mas̲navī, of the adventures of Dalīlah (here written دلالّه) Muḥtālah, adapted from the Arabian Nights. It was rendered into verse by Shaykh Ḥamīd.
عيار دانش ‘Iyār-i dānish', 1184 A.H., 1770 C.E.
فال نامه Fāl-nāmah, undated
The book of divinations ascribed to Alexander the Great (d. 323 B.C.). It contains, in tables, the names of the twelve divisions of heaven, the zodiac.
One of the manuscripts with which the present manuscript is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.