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:
قيافه نامه Qiyāfah-nāmah, undated
گرشاسپ نامه Garshāsp-nāmah, undated
لوامع ربّانی در ردّ شبهات نصرانی Lawāmi‘-i rabbānī dar radd-i shubuhāt-i naṣrānī, undated (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
A treatise giving the Muslim side in a controversy with the Christian Geronimo Xavier, and in vindication of Islam. It was compiled, according to numerous quatrains at the end, each line of which forms a chronogram, in 1031 A.H. (1621 C.E.), by Sayyid Aḥmad b. Zayn al-‘Ābidīn al-‘Alawī al-‘Āmilī. See A Descriptive Catalogue of the Arabic and Persian Manuscripts in Edinburgh University Library by Mohammad Hukk et al. (1925) for more information.
مآثر عالمگيری Maʼās̱ir-i ‘Ālamgīrī, 1145 A.H., 1732 C.E.
A history of the complete reign of Mughal Emperor ‘Ālamgīr (r. 1067-1078 A.H., 1656-1668 C.E.). It was compiled in 1122 A.H., 1710 C.E., by Muḥammad Sāqī Musta‘idd-Khān (d. 1136 A.H., 1723 C.E.) who was secretary to ‘Ināyat-Allāh Khān.
Illuminated Frontispiece.
مثنوی معنوی Masnavī-yi ma‘navī, 892 A.H., 1486 C.E.
The well-known spiritual poem composed by Mawlānā Jalāl al- Dīn Rūmī b. Muḥammad Bahāʼ al- Dīn b. al- Ḥusayn al - Khaṭībī, better known as Rūmī (d. 672 A.H.,1274 C.E.).
Copied at Sar.
مثنوی معنوی Masnavī-yi ma‘navī, undated (extant by 17th cent. C.E.)
The well-known spiritual poem composed by Mawlānā Jalāl al- Dīn Rūmī b. Muḥammad Bahāʼ al- Dīn b. al- Ḥusayn al- Khaṭībī, better known as Rūmī (d. 672 A.H.,1274 C.E.).
Illuminated frontispiece to each of the six Daftars.
مجمع الشعراء Majma‘ al-shu‘arāʼ, 1146 A.H., 1732 C.E.
A selection of poetry, including from the poetry of Ḥāfiẓ of Shīrāz, Ṣāʼib and Waḥshī. It was made at the desire of Mirzā Āqā Riz̤ā Beg.
Illuminated frontispiece.
محاربه ومصالحهٔ محمدشاه با نادرشاه Muḥārabah-u muṣālaḥah-yi Muḥammad-Shāh bā Nādir-Shāh, undated (extant by 18th cent. C.E.)
This is an anonymous account of the war and subsequent peace between Mughal Muḥammad-Shāh of India and Nādir-Shāh of Persia in the 21st year of Muḥammad-Shāh's reign (1152 A.H., 1739 C.E.).
Certain pages are heavily annotated in English. The annotations appear to be translations of the main text, possibly in the hand of the collector, James Anderson.
معدن الجواهر Ma‘dan al-jawāhir, 1188 A.H., 1774 C.E.
A collection of moral tales, which were originally compiled for the Emperor Jahāngīr (r. 1605 to 1627 C.E.) by Mullā Dawlat-Khān "Ṭarzī".
معرفة المذاهب Ma‘rifat al-maz̲āhib, undated
An exposition of a few minor tenets of certain different sects within Islam, the sects being defined as belonging to seventy-three groups in total. It was written from a Sunnī point of view, containing chiefly those articles which were judged worthy of censure by the author, Maḥmūd al-Ṭāhir Ghazālī, commonly called "Niẓām of the Madrasah-yi Jalālī".