Alexander Dow
Encyclopedia
Alexander Dow was an Orientalist, writer, playwright and army officer in the East India Company
.
, Perthshire, was educated for a mercantile career. He is said to have left Scotland after a fatal duel, and to have worked his way as a common sailor to Bencoolen. There he became secretary to the governor, and was commended to the patronage of the officials of the East India Company
at Calcutta. He joined the army there as an ensign in the Bengal infantry on 14 September 1760, and was rapidly promoted lieutenant on 23 August 1763, and captain on 16 April 1764.
He returned to England on leave in 1768, and published in that year two translations, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi and the History of Hindostan, translated from the Persian of Ferishta, from Firishta
. Both works had a great success, and in the following year Dow had a five-act tragedy Zingis which was acted with some success at Drury Lane
.
He then returned to India, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 25 February 1769, and in 1772 published the continuation of his history of Hindostan to the death of Aurungzeb, with two dissertations, ‘On the Origin and Nature of Despotism in Hindostan,’ and ‘An Enquiry into the State of Bengal.’ In 1774 he again returned to England, and David Garrick
produced his second tragedy in verse at Drury Lane, entitled ‘Sethona.’ It was acted only for nine nights, and was said by David Erskine Baker
in his Biographia Dramatica to be not really by Dow at all.
Dow returned once more to India, and died at Bhágalpur on 31 July 1779.
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
.
Life
He was a native of CrieffCrieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, Perthshire, was educated for a mercantile career. He is said to have left Scotland after a fatal duel, and to have worked his way as a common sailor to Bencoolen. There he became secretary to the governor, and was commended to the patronage of the officials of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
at Calcutta. He joined the army there as an ensign in the Bengal infantry on 14 September 1760, and was rapidly promoted lieutenant on 23 August 1763, and captain on 16 April 1764.
He returned to England on leave in 1768, and published in that year two translations, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi and the History of Hindostan, translated from the Persian of Ferishta, from Firishta
Firishta
Firishta or Ferishta, full name Muhammad Qasim Hindu Shah , was born in 1560 and died in 1620 and he was a Persian historian. The name Firishta means angel or one who is sent in Persian.-Life:...
. Both works had a great success, and in the following year Dow had a five-act tragedy Zingis which was acted with some success at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
.
He then returned to India, and was promoted lieutenant-colonel on 25 February 1769, and in 1772 published the continuation of his history of Hindostan to the death of Aurungzeb, with two dissertations, ‘On the Origin and Nature of Despotism in Hindostan,’ and ‘An Enquiry into the State of Bengal.’ In 1774 he again returned to England, and David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
produced his second tragedy in verse at Drury Lane, entitled ‘Sethona.’ It was acted only for nine nights, and was said by David Erskine Baker
David Erskine Baker
-Life:David Erskine Baker was the son of Henry Baker, F.R.S., and his wife, the youngest daughter of Daniel Defoe. Baker was born in the parish of St Dunstan-in-the-West in the City of London, on 30 January 1730, and named after his godfather, David Erskine, 9th Earl of Buchan...
in his Biographia Dramatica to be not really by Dow at all.
Dow returned once more to India, and died at Bhágalpur on 31 July 1779.
Works
- Tales Translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi (17681768 in literatureSee also: 1767 in literature, other events of 1768, 1769 in literature, list of years in literature.-Events:*John Wilkes returns from exile in France and is elected to Parliament.*May 10 - John Wilkes is imprisoned for attacking King George III in print....
) - Zingis (17691769 in literatureSee also: 1768 in literature, other events of 1769, 1770 in literature, list of years in literature.-Events:* February–April - John Wilkes is expelled from the Parliament of Great Britain three times....
) - 5 act tragedy