Lieutenant John Malcolm, Madras Army, 1795 circa (miniature on ivory)

Lieutenant (later Major-General Sir) John Malcolm, Madras Army, 1795 circa. Miniature on ivory attributed to the Indian artist Lallji (fl. 1785-1820), 1795 circa. Malcolm (1769-1833), shown here wearing the uniform of an aide-de-camp, was the sixteenth child of a Scottish sheep farming family, who left home at the age of 12 to join the East India Company's forces as an ensign. Acting as a Persian translator, he was present at the surrender of the sons of Tipu Sultan to Lord Cornwallis in 1792. He was a friend of James Skinner, Sir John Kennaway and William Fitzpatrick. Over a period of 47 years he rose to become a diplomat, statesman, administrator, renowned Persian scholar, and was a notable member of the circle of talented soldiers surrounding Governor-General Richard, Marquess of Wellesley. He was the author of many works including the influential 'Political History of India (1811)'. The miniature was presented to Sir John Low by Malcolm.