Anderson, James, 1758-1833 (Persian Interpretor, East India Company)
Dates
- Existence: 1758 - 1833
Biography
James Anderson (1757-1833) was a soldier and Persian interpreter for the East India Company. He and his brother, David Anderson (1750-1828), were close associates of Warren Hastings (1732-1818), the first British Governor-General of Bengal, Hasting’s inner circle being known for their interest in South Asian and Muslim culture and heritage. Born in Edinburgh, he studied at the University of Edinburgh matriculating in 1768 and graduating in 1774, taking courses in Greek, Rational, Moral, and Natural Philosophy, Rhetoric and Belles Letters. He also studied with James Robertson (Chair of Hebrew 1751-1792), participating in Robertson’s "Hebrew Language" classes that included the tuition of Arabic and Persian. In 1775 Anderson joined the East India Company Army, being promoted to Lieutenant in 1778. He acted as translator for an important peace treaty between the Marāthās and the EIC, negotiated between David Anderson and Madho Rao Pundit Purdhan at Scindia in 1782.
James Anderson worked together with Charles Hamilton (c.1752-92) on the translation of the Hedāyah, an important work of Hanafī jurisprudence by Burhān al-Dīn Marghīnānī (1135-1197 C.E.) that became central to the legal system operated by the British in South Asia. East India Company records show that by 1789 Anderson was on furlough in Europe, and that by 1791 he had been “Struck Off”. He later purchased Wilton Lodge near Hawick. In November of 1844 Adam Anderson, James’ nephew donated his late uncle’s manuscripts to the University Library. This included 57 items, the vast majority in Persian (several in Arabic). Poetry and historiography feature prominently among these works with medicine, Islamic Law, the Persian epics, and other topics also treated.
Found in 19 Collections and/or Records:
جامع الرموز Jāmi‘ al-rumūz, undated copy (original text composed 16th cent. C.E.)
A complete commentary on the Wiqāyat al-Hidāyah of ‘Ubayd-Allāh b. Maḥmūd b. Maḥmūd al-Maḥbūbī, also known as "Ṣadr al-Sharī‘ah", who lived in the seventh century of the ḥijrah. The author of the commentary is Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad Khurāsānī Quhistānī, (d. circa 950 A.H., 1543 C.E.).
دستور العملِ بادشاهی Dastūr al-‘Amal-i Bādshāhī, undated
An abridged official manual of the Indian Empire. The original was possibly drawn up in Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr's (r. 1658 to 1707 C.E.) time. It contains an account of the allowances of the officials of various grades, names of Faṣlī months, revenues and area of the Empire, distance from Shāhjahānābād (Dehlī) to various places, and the divisions and revenues of a number of ṣūbahs (see more in Hukk et al catalogue).
رساله درعلم فراست Risālah dar ‘ilm-i firāsat, 1107 A.H., 1695 C.E.
A treatise on the science of physiognomy. The author's name is not given.
رساله درعلمِ نجوم Risālah dar ‘ilm-i nujūm, undated
A treatise on astronomy; neither preface nor author's name is given. Numerous tables in red ink.
رساله درعلمِ وفق Risālah dar ‘ilm-i vafq, undated
This is the fourth maqālah (chapter) from a longer work on the theory of numbers in five chapters (see A Descriptive Catalogue of the Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library by Mohammad Hukk et al. (1925) for further details.
This manuscript includes many tables.
رقائم کرائم Raqāʼim-i Karāʼim, undated
A collection of letters written by Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1658 to 1707 C.E.) to Amīr-Khān and others.
These were collected, as stated in the introduction, after the death of Amīr-Khān (circa 1131 A.H., 1719 C.E.), by his son Sayyid Ashraf-Khān (Mīr Muḥammad Husaynī), from the remnants left by his father.
ساعاتِ نهضت که عالمگير نمودند Sā‘āt-i Nahz̤at kih ‘Ālamgīr namūdand, undated
A record of the movements and encampments of the Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1658 to 1707 C.E.), from the third Rabī‘ II, 1066 A.H. (1665 C.E.), to the fourth of Jumādá II, 1099 A.H. (1687 C.E.), the thirty-fourth year of his reign. Besides the places of encampment, the length of stay and the time taken to pass from one place to another are also recorded.
شفاء المرض Shifāʼ al-marz̤, 1133 A.H., 1720 C.E.
A compendium of medicine in verse, compiled, 990 A.H. (1582 C.E.) by Shihāb al-Dīn b. ‘Abd al- Karīm.
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library by Mohammad Hukk et al. (1925) says of the dating: "about 1133 A.H. (1720 C.E.)" and that the scribe is "Chanpā, son of Aithippā'. See Or Ms 257 for further discussion of this scribe.
شقّهٔ عالمگير Shuqqah-yi ‘Ālamgīr, undated (original text compiled 17th-18th cent. C.E.)
A letter from Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1658 to 1707 C.E.) to his son Muḥammad A‘ẓam-Shāh (d. 1119 A.H., 1707 C.E.) during a siege, possibly of Gulkundah in 1107 A.H., 1695 C.E.
شقّها و کلمات عالمگير Shuqqahā-u Kalimāt-i ‘Ālamgīr, undated (original text compiled 17th-18th cent. C.E.)
A collection of royal letters and notes of Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1658 to 1707 C.E.). The letters are addressed to his son Muḥammad A‘ẓam-Shāh (d. 1119 A.H., 1707 C.E.).