James Grant Duff
Encyclopedia
James Grant Duff was a British Soldier
, and historian
.
of Kincardine O'Neil
and Margaret Miln Duff of Eden, who died 20 August 1824, was born in the town of Banff
on 8 July 1789. His father dying about 1799, his mother moved to Aberdeen, where he went to school, and to the Marischal College
.
, but impatient at the prospect of delay in obtaining a post he accepted a cadetship in 1805 and sailed for Bombay. Having studied at the cadet establishment there, he joined the Bombay grenadiers, was present in 1808 as ensign in command at the storming of Maliah, a fortified stronghold of freebooter
s, where he displayed conspicuous gallantry, and his party was almost cut to pieces. At an unusually early age he became adjutant to his regiment and Persian interpreter, and was even more influential in it than this position indicated. While still lieutenant he attracted the attention of Mountstuart Elphinstone
, then resident of Poona, and became, along with Captain Pottinger
, his assistant and devoted friend. Elphinstone"s character of him in 1858 was: He was particularly successful in understanding the native character, and in discovering the mean between too rapid reform and too great deference to native prejudice and immobility. During the long operations against the Peishwa Bajee Rao, terminating in his overthrow, Grant took a considerable part, both in a civil and in a military capacity, holding now the rank of captain in his regiment. Upon the settlement of the country he was appointed in 1818 to the important office of resident of Sattara. His instructions are contained in a letter of Elphinstone"s, dated 8 April 1818, and his remuneration was fixed at two thousand rupees per month, with allowances of fifteen hundred rupees per month, and in addition his office establishment Here, in the heart of a warlike province, the centre of the Mahratta confederacy, with but one European companion and a body of native infantry, he succeeded in maintaining himself.
By proclamation 11 April 1818, Elphinstone made over to Grant full powers for the arrangement of the affairs of Sattara. Pertab Sing the rajah was rescued from his captivity by the peishwa, after the battle of Ashteh February 1819, and restored to the throne under the tutelage of Grant. By treaty 25 September 1819, Grant was to administer the country in the rajah's name till 1822, and then transfer it to him and his officers when they should prove fit for the task. Grant carefully impressed upon the rajah that any intercourse with other princes, except such as the treaty provided for, would be punished with annexation of his territory, and trained him so successfully in habits of business that Pertab Sing, having improved greatly under his care, was made direct ruler of Sattara in 1822; but under Grant"s successor, General Briggs
, his behaviour was unsatisfactory. During this time, Grant concluded the treaties with the Sattara jaghiredars, viz. 22 April 1820, the Punt Sucheo, the Punt Prithee Nidhee, the Duflaykur, and the Deshmook of Phultun, and 3 July 1820, the Rajah of Akulkote and the Sheikh Waekur (as the names are given by Aitcheson). The arrangements which he prescribed both for the etiquette of the Durbar and for the management of the revenue remained as he left them for many years.
, an eminent physician and author of the Materia Medica Indica), whom he married in 1825, succeeded to an estate in Fifeshire belonging to her mother"s family, whereupon he took the further name of Cuninghame.
, M.P. for the Elgin Burghs, under-secretary for India 1868–74, and under-secretary for the colonies 1880–1, and Governor of Madras Presidency 1881–6.
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
Early Life
He was the eldest son of John GrantJohn Grant
John Grant may refer to:*John Grant , Screenwriter, wrote for Abbott and Costello*Johannes Grant, engineer, believed by some scholars to have been Scottish, who fought in the Siege of Constantinople*John Gaston Grant , U.S...
of Kincardine O'Neil
Kincardine O'Neil
Kincardine O'Neil is one of the oldest villages in Deeside, in the northeast of Scotland. It is situated between Banchory and Aboyne. The village is known locally as Kinker, and was formerly known as Eaglais Iarach in Gaelic....
and Margaret Miln Duff of Eden, who died 20 August 1824, was born in the town of Banff
Banff, Aberdeenshire
Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
on 8 July 1789. His father dying about 1799, his mother moved to Aberdeen, where he went to school, and to the Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
.
Military career
He was designed for the civil service of the East India CompanyEast 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...
, but impatient at the prospect of delay in obtaining a post he accepted a cadetship in 1805 and sailed for Bombay. Having studied at the cadet establishment there, he joined the Bombay grenadiers, was present in 1808 as ensign in command at the storming of Maliah, a fortified stronghold of freebooter
Freebooter
Freebooter may refer to:* Marine freebooters, or pirates.* Filibuster , a group of individuals who engage in unauthorized warfare against foreign countries.* Rapparee, the Irish usage.* Meadowbrook Freebooters, American polo team...
s, where he displayed conspicuous gallantry, and his party was almost cut to pieces. At an unusually early age he became adjutant to his regiment and Persian interpreter, and was even more influential in it than this position indicated. While still lieutenant he attracted the attention of Mountstuart Elphinstone
Mountstuart Elphinstone
Mountstuart Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman and historian, associated with the government of British India. He later became the Governor of Bombay where he is credited with the opening of several educational institutions accessible to the Indian population...
, then resident of Poona, and became, along with Captain Pottinger
Pottinger
Pottinger may refer to:* Pottinger , an area of Belfast, Northern Ireland* Belfast Pottinger * Belfast Pottinger * Bell Pottinger Group...
, his assistant and devoted friend. Elphinstone"s character of him in 1858 was: He was particularly successful in understanding the native character, and in discovering the mean between too rapid reform and too great deference to native prejudice and immobility. During the long operations against the Peishwa Bajee Rao, terminating in his overthrow, Grant took a considerable part, both in a civil and in a military capacity, holding now the rank of captain in his regiment. Upon the settlement of the country he was appointed in 1818 to the important office of resident of Sattara. His instructions are contained in a letter of Elphinstone"s, dated 8 April 1818, and his remuneration was fixed at two thousand rupees per month, with allowances of fifteen hundred rupees per month, and in addition his office establishment Here, in the heart of a warlike province, the centre of the Mahratta confederacy, with but one European companion and a body of native infantry, he succeeded in maintaining himself.
By proclamation 11 April 1818, Elphinstone made over to Grant full powers for the arrangement of the affairs of Sattara. Pertab Sing the rajah was rescued from his captivity by the peishwa, after the battle of Ashteh February 1819, and restored to the throne under the tutelage of Grant. By treaty 25 September 1819, Grant was to administer the country in the rajah's name till 1822, and then transfer it to him and his officers when they should prove fit for the task. Grant carefully impressed upon the rajah that any intercourse with other princes, except such as the treaty provided for, would be punished with annexation of his territory, and trained him so successfully in habits of business that Pertab Sing, having improved greatly under his care, was made direct ruler of Sattara in 1822; but under Grant"s successor, General Briggs
Briggs
Briggs could refer to:* Briggs cliff, a fictional place in Fullmetal Alchemist manga* Briggs , a lunar crater* Briggs Initiative, either of two pieces of Californian legislation sponsored by John Briggs* Briggs Islet, Tasmania, Australia...
, his behaviour was unsatisfactory. During this time, Grant concluded the treaties with the Sattara jaghiredars, viz. 22 April 1820, the Punt Sucheo, the Punt Prithee Nidhee, the Duflaykur, and the Deshmook of Phultun, and 3 July 1820, the Rajah of Akulkote and the Sheikh Waekur (as the names are given by Aitcheson). The arrangements which he prescribed both for the etiquette of the Durbar and for the management of the revenue remained as he left them for many years.
Return to Scotland
After five years the anxiety and toil broke down his health, and compelled his return to Scotland, where he occupied himself in completing his History of the Mahrattas, the materials for which he had long been collecting with great diligence and under peculiarly favourable opportunities, through his access to state papers, and family and temple archives, and his personal acquaintance with the Mahratta chiefs (see in Colebrooke, Life of Elphinstone, several letters to and from Grant). It was published in 1826 and was translated into the major languages of Western India and made required reading for Indian students during the British Raj. About 1825 he succeeded to the estate of Eden, and taking the additional name of Duff settled there, improving the property. In 1850 his wife, Jane Catharine Ainslie (only daughter of Sir Whitelaw AinslieWhitelaw Ainslie
Whitelaw Ainslie was a British surgeon and writer on materia medica, best known for his work in India.-Biography:He become assistant surgeon in the East India Company's service on 17 June 1788, and on his arrival in India was appointed garrison surgeon of Chingleput...
, an eminent physician and author of the Materia Medica Indica), whom he married in 1825, succeeded to an estate in Fifeshire belonging to her mother"s family, whereupon he took the further name of Cuninghame.
Family
He died on 23 September 1858, leaving a daughter and two sons, of whom the elder, Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant DuffMountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff GCSI, CIE, PC FRS , known as M. E. Grant Duff before 1887 and as Sir Mountstuart Grant Duff thereafter, was a Scottish politician, administrator and author...
, M.P. for the Elgin Burghs, under-secretary for India 1868–74, and under-secretary for the colonies 1880–1, and Governor of Madras Presidency 1881–6.
Works
- History of the Mahrattas, 3 vols. London, Longmans, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green (1826); also more recent editions, ISBN 8170209560 ISBN 1421221373; vol. II only on line. Also, revised ed., S. M. Edwardes, London, etc., Oxford University Press (1921) Vol. II only on line.
Literature
- A.R. Kulkarni, James Cuninghame Grant Duff : Administrator-Historian of the Marathas, Kolkata, K.P. Bagchi (2006) ISBN 8170742862