India: Colonel James Skinner (1778-1841), Anglo-Indian officer in India, often known as Sikandar Sahib later in life. The portrait is from Skinner's own Tazkirat al-Umara (An account of the Nobles), Delhi, 1830

Colonel James Skinner CB (1778 – 4 December 1841) was an Anglo-Indian military adventurer in India, who became known as Sikandar Sahib later in life, and is best known for two cavalry regiments he raised for the British, later known as 1st Skinner's Horse and 3rd Skinner's Horse (formerly 2nd Skinner's Horse) at Hansi in 1803, which still form a part of the Indian Army.

The son of Hercules Skinner, a Scottish soldier and the daughter of a Rajput landowner, Skinner initially took service with the Marathas. Later he fought for the British. His chief wife was Muslim. He was a fluent writer in Persian, the court and intellectual language of India in his day, and wrote several books in Persian, including 'Kitab-i tasrih al-aqvam' (History of the Origin and Distinguishing Marks of the Different Castes of India).

Copyright:

Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History