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 56 Collections and/or Records:
توزک جهانگيری Tūzuk-i Jahāngīrī, undated (original text compiled 16th-17th cent. 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.).
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 الاطباء Dastūr al-aṭibbāʼ, undated (extant by 19th cent. C.E.)
A work on the Indian system of medicine. It was compiled by the celebrated Muḥammad Qāsim Hindū-Shāh, commonly known as Firishtāh.
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).
ديوان خاقانی Dīvān-i Khāqānī, undated copy (original text composed 12th cent. C.E.)
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.
ديوان صائب Dīvān-i Ṣāʼib, 1108 A.H., 1696 C.E.
ديوانِ عرفی Dīvān-i ‘Urfī, 1024 A.H., 1615 C.E.
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.