James Skinner: From Half-Born Mercenary to Sikandar Sahib

Back in the 18th century, when the British were still trying to get a handle on this new land they had claimed, an adventurous Anglo-Indian solider burst onto the scene in the most dramatic way. Born to a Scottish father and a Rajput mother in Bengal, he grew up to become one of the most colourful men of his time – at times more ‘Indian’ than ‘Anglo’; at times a loyal soldier, at others a mercenary. But straddling two worlds was not a curse for James Skinner. Although a disadvantage at times, he elevated it to an art and used it to earn great fame and fortune. Knighted by the Mughals, respected by the Marathas as well as the British, and fondly referred to as ‘Sikandar Sahib’ by common folk, Skinner enjoyed the best of all worlds. The cavalry regiments he raised during his exploits against various political rulers are his enduring legacy to the Indian Army. Called ‘Skinner’s Horse’ when he raised them in the early 19th century, they live on as ‘1st Horse’, one of the most prestigious regiments of the Army today. Visit Old Delhi and you will find another memorial to this audacious, opportunistic, intrepid and versatile Anglo-Indian, for whom no adjective seems adequate. Here stands Delhi’s first church, St James Church, which Skinner built to keep a promise to God. For all his fame and glory as a soldier, he was also quite learned and wrote an exhaustive account of different castes in India, in Persian! The story of James Skinner begins in Calcutta in 1778, when Skinner was born to a Scottish father, Hercules Skinner, and a Rajput mother (known to her Scottish in-laws as Jeannie). Not much is known about her besides what Skinner wrote in his memoir, which was put together posthumously by a close friend and Scottish travel writer and artist, J B Fraser. Skinner wrote, “My father was a native of Scotland, in the [East India] Company's service; my mother was a Rajepootnee, the daughter of a zamindar of Bojepoor country, who was taken prisoner at the age of fourteen, in a war with Rajah Cheit Sing… My father, then an ensign, into whose hands she fell, treated her with great kindness, and she bore him six children, three girls and three boys.” The times in which Skinner grew up were confusing. Despite strong social barriers, the British East India Company had begun mingling with the ‘natives’ and many were enamoured of Indian culture. Many British men adopted the clothes, language and even religious elements of Indian culture, and formed relationships with Indian women. This, in time, birthed the Anglo-Indian community. But with all the colour also came chaos and cultural conflict. When Skinner was just 12, his mother killed herself in ‘shame’. His father wanted to educate all his children but his mother could not bear the thought that her daughters should be forced from her and sent to school. To her religious mind, by being wrenched from her protection, the sanctity of the purdah was being violated, and the legendary Rajput honour destroyed. Worried that they would be disgraced by being removed from the care of all their female relatives (which was contrary to Rajput customs), she took her life. It took the young Skinner a while to find his feet. After his schooling, he did odd jobs in the local market. He apprenticed with a printer but soon lost interest and started working in the office of one of his brothers-in-law, who was a lawyer. But Skinner found these apprenticeships insipid. His restless soul yearned for adventure and, like his father, he wanted to pursue a military career. So his godfather, Colonel Burn, introduced him to Benoit de Boigne, the celebrated French General in the Maratha army of Mahadji Scindia of Gwalior. One reason for the Marathas’ success had been their skilful use of European and Eurasian mercenaries and, in June 1796, they welcomed Skinner into their ranks. He was appointed as an ensign at Rs 150 per month. Finding his Calling This was exactly what Skinner was searching for and he instantly began to flourish. He lost no time learning the art of warfare under the Marathas and began to acquaint himself with the native chiefs. He served in the Maratha army for over seven years, against rival Maratha factions, as well as the Rajputs. During this time, the military campaigns he participated in included the capture of Delhi in May 1798, and the storming of Hansi (in present-day Haryana), the stronghold of Irish adventurer George Thomas, in 1799. But Skinner’s spectacular career in the Maratha army came to an abrupt end. In 1803, during the Second Anglo-Maratha War, when the Marathas prepared to take on the Briti ...