Robert Lindsay (colonial official)

(Redirected from Robert Lindsay (Sylhet)) Official in British India (1754–1836) For other people named Robert Lindsey (disambiguation), see Robert Lindsay.

Robert Lindsay

Supervisor/Superintendent of Sylhet
In office 1778–1787
Monarch	George III
Governor	Warren Hastings, John Macpherson
Preceded by	Holland
Succeeded by	position abolished
District Collector of Sylhet
In office 1787–1790
Governor	Charles Cornwallis
Preceded by	Supervisor of Sylhet
Succeeded by	Hyndman

Personal details
Born	Robert Lindsay (1754-01-25)25 January 1754 Scotland
Died	1836 (aged 81–82) Scotland
Spouse	Elizabeth Dick
Parents	James Lindsay (father) Anne Dalrymple (mother)
Relatives	Alexander and Charles (brothers), Elizabeth Yorke (sister)
Military service
Battles/wars	Muharram Rebellion, Revolt of Radharam, Khasi insurgency

Robert Lindsay (1754–1836) was a Scottish colonial official and businessman who served as supervisor of Sylhet in British India from 1778 until 1787, and then as district collector from 1787 until 1790. He is known to have taken part in the Muharram Rebellion.

Biography

Lindsay was born on 25 January 1754 to the Earl of Balcarres, James Lindsay and Anne Dalrymple. His maternal uncle, Charles Dalrymple got him into the trading lifestyle on a Deptford ship to Cadiz. In 1772, he travelled to India on the Prince of Wales East Indiaman reaching Calcutta in September. Here, he was made an assistant to the Accountant-General of the revenue department and also studied the Persian language. On the autumn of 1776, he went on a voyage to the city of Dacca. He also learnt the Hindustani language as the importance of Persian declined.

Collector of Sylhet

After a few years in Dacca, Lindsay set off for the Sylhet. On arriving, he was advised to pay his respects and visit the dargah of Shah Jalal as per tradition. It is said he took his shoes off before entering and donated five golden mohurs (16 Bengali rupees) as he left. He mentions during his time in Sylhet, of the custom of drying fish (shutki) and its "noxious" smell.

In Chapter 7 of his book, he mentions the 1782 Sylhet uprising in Sylhet Shahi Eidgah. During his tenure, he successfully suppressed the Revolt of Radharam in 1786. Lindsay was succeeded as Collector of Sylhet by Hyndman and shortly after by John Willes.

Return to Britain

According to Assam District Gazetteers, vol. 10, Lindsay was "largely interested in the business, and describes the sources of his wealth in most poetic terms. 'The chunam or lime rock is washed by the rapid stream. A magnificent cataract was seen rolling over the adjoining precipice, the scenery altogether was truly sublime. The mountain was composed of the purest alabaster lime, and appeared in quantity equal to the supply of the whole world'." The book later states, "Mr. Lindsay's business experienced some vicissitudes owing to the violent conduct of the Khasi chiefs, but lime no doubt contributed largely to the fortune that he was able to accumulate in Sylhet.

On his return to the United Kingdom, Lindsay purchased the large estate of Balcarres House in Scotland from his brother, Alexander Lindsay, 6th Earl of Balcarres, with the fortune that he had made in Bengal. He died in 1836.

Political offices
Preceded byHolland	Superintendent of Sylhet 1778-1787	Succeeded byPost abolished
Preceded byNew post	Collector of Sylhet 1787-1790	Succeeded byHyndman

References

^ Allen, B.C. (1906). Assam district gazetteers, Volume 10. Baptist Mission Press. p. 14.
^ "Lindsay, Robert". Banglapedia: The national encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
Lives of the Lindsays; or a Memoir of the Houses of Crawford and Balcarres. Vol. 3. p. 151.
Bhattacharjee, J.B. (2005). "Revolt of Nawab Radharam (1786)". Proceedings of North East India History Association. 26. Gauhati University: 177–78.
Allen, p. 15