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Anderson, James, 1758-1833 (Persian Interpretor, East India Company)

 Person

Staff Only

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 14 Collections and/or Records:

الجامع الصحيح al-Jāmi‘ al-ṣaḥīḥ, undated copy (original text composed 9th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 156
Scope and Contents

A copy of the famous collection of ḥadīth (reports of the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muḥammad) by Abū ‘Abd-Allāh Muḥammad b. Ismā‘īl al-Bukhārī, (d. 256 A.H., 869 C.E.).


Four frontispieces illuminated with gold.

Dates: undated copy (original text composed 9th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

بهجته العالم Bahjat al-‘ālam, undated (original text compiled 18th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 247
Scope and Contents

A copy of a work on general geography by Ḥakīm Mahārat-Khān Iṣfahānī, who completed it some time after 1124 A.H. (1712 C.E). The work is principally based upon the geographical and biographical encyclopaedia Haft-Iqlīm by Amīn Aḥmad Rāzī (compiled 16th cent. C.E.).


Frontispieces illuminated with gold.

Dates: undated (original text compiled 18th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

تاریخ عالم آرای عباسی Tarīkh-i ʻālam ārā-yi ʻAbbāsī, 1064 A.H., 1653 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 240
Scope and Contents A complete copy in two parts of the life and reign of Shāh-‘Abbās the Great, the seventh King of the Safavid dynasty who reigned over Persia for 44 years and died at the age of 60, a.h. 1038 (a.d. 1629). The work was originally completed and dedicated to ‘Abbās in 1025 A.H., 1616 C.E., but was afterwards continued until 1038 A.H., 1629 C.E. This part includes a history of the Shāh's predecessors, and inscribed to Shāh-Ṣāfī by Iskandar Beg, better known as "Munshī", who was one of the record...
Dates: 1064 A.H.; 1653 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

تکملهٔ يافعی Takmilah-yi Yāfi‘ī, undated (original text compiled 14th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 242
Scope and Contents

A Persian translation of the original Arabic titled Khulāṣat al-Mafākhir fī Manāqib al-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir by Shaykh ‘Abd-Allāh Yāfi‘ī (d. 768 A.H., 1366 C.E.). It contains two hundred and sixteen stories which are primarily about the celebrated Sufi saint and eponymous founder of the Qādirī Ṭarīqah, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī (d. 561 A.H., 1166 C.E.).


Frontispiece illuminated with gold.

Dates: undated (original text compiled 14th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

ديوان خاقانی Dīvān-i Khāqānī, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 274
Scope and Contents

The collected poems of Imām Afz̤al al-Dīn "Khāqānī" of Shirvān (who died at Tabriz between 582 and 595 A.H. /1186 and 1199 C.E.), with a few pages missing at the end.

Fronticepiece illuminated with gold.

Dates: undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

ديوان صائب Dīvān-i Ṣāʼib, 1108 A.H., 1696 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 304
Scope and Contents This good copy of the Dīvān of Ṣāʼib (fol. 1 is missing). It consists of ghazals, with which are mixed a few unfinished ghazals and rubā'is, all arranged alphabetically."Ṣāʼib" is the pen name of Mīrzā Muḥammad 'Alī of Tabriz (d. ca. 1080 A.H./ 1670 C.E.), who founded a new style for writing poetry, and is regarded as one of the greatest of modern Persian poets.He spend time under the patronage of the Governor of Kabul, Ẓafar-Khān, and...
Dates: 1108 A.H.; 1696 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

سرورافزا Surūrafzā, 1216 A.H., 1801 C.E.

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 324
Scope and Contents

A poem in praise of London, composed during his travels in Europe, by Mirzā Abū Ṭālib Khān Hindī Isfahānī (d 1220 or 1221 A.H., 1805-1806 C.E.).


It contains a portrait of the author "Engraved by Ridley from an original picture painted by Russel," for the European Magazine. The present manuscript was copied for the owner, James Anderson, by George Swinton.

Dates: 1216 A.H.; 1801 C.E.
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

شاه نامه Shāh-nāmah, undated copy (original text composed 10th-11th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 266
Scope and Contents A superb copy of the Persian "Book of Kings" and epic poem, the verse written by Abū'l-Qāsim Firdawsī ca. 329-410 A.H. (940-1019 C.E.). The present copy is across two volumes OR MS 266 and 267; the verse appears to be complete but it does not include the preface.It is written in fine nast 'līq in four columns, framed by coloured lines, with headings in red or gold and has an illuminated frontispiece. The last few folios are slightly...
Dates: undated copy (original text composed 10th-11th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

شاه نامه Shāh-nāmah, undated copy (original text composed 10th-11th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 267
Scope and Contents A superb copy of the Persian "Book of Kings" and epic poem, the verse written by Abū'l-Qāsim Firdawsī ca. 329-410 A.H. (940-1019 C.E.). The present copy is across two volumes OR MS 266 and 267; the verse appears to be complete but it does not include the preface.It is written in fine nast'līq in four columns, framed by coloured lines, with headings in red or gold and has an illuminated frontispiece.Despite being undated the other...
Dates: undated copy (original text composed 10th-11th cent. C.E.)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia

عجائب المخلوقات و غرائب الموجودات ‘Ajāʼib al-makhlūqāt wa gharāʼib al-mawjūdāt, undated copy (original text composed 13th cent. C.E.)

 Item
Identifier: Or Ms 362
Scope and Contents

A treatise on cosmography translated from the Arabic of Zakarīyā b. Muḥammad al-Qazvīnī, a descendant of Uns b. (Imām) Mālik.

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