Van Cortland, Henry Charles, 1814-1888 (Soldier for Sikh Maharajas and British Raj)

Person

Biography

Probably Henry Charles Van Cortland[t] (1814-1888). Born in Meerut, India, Van Cortland was educated in England but returned to India in 1830-31 and entered the service of the Maharaja Ranjit Singh at Lahore. Van Cortland was subsequently employed by the Maharaja in several military campaigns in the Punjab. Following the death of Ranjit Singh in 1839, Van Cortland was enlisted by Ranjit Singh's successors, but ended his association with the Sikhs in 1846. Following the annexation of the Punjab, he was transferred to the British service as a civilian. He later played a significant role in the supression of the First Indian War of Independance, also know as "The Mutiny", of 1857, for which he was awarded the Companionship of the Order of the Bath (C.B.). He retired in 1868 and lived the remainder of his life in England.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

خلاصة التواريخ كشمير Khulāṣat al-Tawārīkh-i Kashmīr, 1278 A.H., 1861 C.E.

Item

Identifier: Or Ms 234

Scope and Contents This work (copied for the donor by one of the compilers from the holograph copy) is a short history of Kashmir from the earliest times. It was begun originally at the desire of some English officials by Mirzā Sayf al-Dīn, who held the post of record writer in Kashmir, and brought down by him to 1277 A.H. (1859 C.E.), but he died a year later. Some time after, the donor, on his appointment as British Agent in Kashmir, requested the brother and successor in office of the deceased, Mirzā Muḥyi...

Dates: 1278 A.H.; 1861 C.E.

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Manuscripts of the Islamicate World and South Asia