FIBIS Database - Powered by The Frontis Archive Publishing System

Quick Search

Browse Records

Dictionary of Indian Biography (Buckland)

Dictionary of Indian Biography M to R

Data table details
Date transcribed	2011-08-00
Transcribed by	Peter Bailey
Comment	Note that notables of Indian, Afghan, etc. origin do not always follow the alphabetical name patterns established by Buckland in his original work.

	Surname	Pottinger
	First Name(s)	Eldred
	Birth Year	1811
	Death Year	1843
	Entry	Major : born Aug. 12, 1811 : son of Thomas Pottinger : educated at Addiscombe : went to Bombay in the Artillery, 1827: became Assistant to his uncle, Sir H. Pottinger (q.v.), then Resident in Sind : sent in 1837 to explore and obtain information in Central Asia : he arrived at Kabul disguised as a horse-dealer, later assumed a religious garb : reached Herat in 1837. The Shah of Persia unsuccessfully besieged Herat, from Nov. 23, 1837 to Sep. 9, 1838 : during this time Pottinger openly assisted the Afghans. His skill, vigour, and personal courage in its defence saved the city. He was afterwards appointed Political Agent at Herat : made C.B. He was in the Kohistan above Kabul in 1841 when the Afghans rose : he escaped to Charikar and Kabul. When the capitulation to the Afghans was made, against his advice, he was one of the three hostages left with Akbar Khan, and was in captivity for 9 months, until the relief by General Pollock in Sep. 1842. He was brought before a Court of Inquiry in 1842-3, for drawing Bills for 19 lakhs in favour of the Afghans, and for signing a treaty, but was completely exonerated. On a visit to his uncle in China, he died from fever at Hongkong, Nov. 15, 1843 : C.B.

<< first < previous next > last >>

A List of eminent persons who served in British India, together with short biographical notes of each

More details

© Families in British India Society. Unless stated otherwise, all rights including those in copyright in the content of this website are owned by or controlled for these purposes by the Families in British India Society.The content of this site may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way without first obtaining written permission from the Families in British India Society or that of the copyright owner.

If you found this useful then why not join FIBIS to get all the benefits from membership and help this work to continue. You can now join on-line in the FIBIS Shop...

text size

Powered by Frontis, The Archive Publishing System