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:
فال نامه Fāl-nāmah, undated
A book of divination ascribed to ‘Alī b. Abī Ṭālib (d. 40 A.H., 661 C.E.).
One of the manuscripts with which the present ms. is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
فال نامه Fāl-nāmah, undated
A translation from the Arabic of a book of divination ascribed to ‘Alī b. Abī Ṭālib (d. 40 A.H., 661 C.E.), and versified by the poet Khwājah Rashīd al-Dīn "Waṭwāṭ" (d. 578 A.H., 1182 C.E.).
One of the manuscripts with which the present ms. is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
فال نامه Fāl-nāmah, undated
A book of divination ascribed to the sixth Twelver Shī‘ī Imām, Ja‘far b. Muḥammad al-Ṣādiq (d. 148 A.H., 765 C.E.)
One of the manuscripts with which the present ms. is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
فال نامه Fāl-nāmah, undated
A book of divination ascribed to Shaykh Yaḥyā Munyarī (Sharaf al-Dīn Aḥmad, d. 782 A.H., 1380 C.E.), a celebrated saint of Bihār.
One of the manuscripts with which the present ms. is bound, Or. Ms. 308, is dated 1066 A.H. (1655 C.E.) and bears the name of the scribe Murtaẓá Qulī Qazvīnī.
فتاوی عالم گيری (کتاب جنايات) Fatāwī-i ʻālamgīrī (Kitāb-i janāyāt), undated (original text compiled 17th cent. C.E.)
فتوح ابن اعثم Futūḥ-i Ibn A‘s̱am, undated copy (original text composed 10th cent. C.E.)
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.).
قصهٔ دليله محتاله Qiṣṣa-yi Dalīlah Muḥtālah, undated copy (earliest version compiled 9th cent. C.E.)
The adventures of Dalīlah (here written Dallah) Muḥtālah in the time of the ‘Abbāsid ruler Hārūn al-Rashīd. The story has been adapted from the Arabian Nights.
قصهٔ سيف الملوک و بديع الجمال Qiṣṣa-yi Sayf al-Mulūk-u Badī‘ al-Jamāl, undated copy (earliest version compiled 9th cent. C.E.)
The love story of Prince Sayf al-Mulūk and Princess Badī‘ al-Jamāl, a tale adapted from the Arabian Nights.
قصّهٔ هزار مسئله Qiṣṣa-yi hazār masʼalah, undated
The story of the Prince of Rūm and the Princess of China by Mawlānā ‘Abd al-Ghafūr.