Patrick Alexander Vans Agnew
Encyclopedia
Patrick Alexander Vans Agnew (1822–1848) was an Indian civil servant, whose murder during the Siege of Multan
by the retainers of Mulráj led to the Second Sikh War and to the annexation of the Punjab
as a British province.
. After a very successful career at Haileybury College, where he gave evidence of superior talent and of judgment and force of character in advance of his years, Agnew joined the Bengal civil service in March 1841, and in the following year commenced his official life as assistant to the commissioner of the Delhi
division. In December 1845 he was appointed assistant to Major Broadfoot, the superintendent of the Cis-Sutlej states, and was present at the Battle of Sobraon
early in 1846. He was subsequently employed in settling the boundaries of the territory of Maharaja Gholab Sing, the new ruler of Cashmere
, and in a mission to Gilgit
, and in the spring of 1848, being then assistant to the resident at Lahore
, was sent to Multán with instructions to take over the government of that province from Mulráj, the dewán or governor, who had applied to be relieved of it, and to make it over to Khán Sing, another Sikh official, remaining himself in the capacity of political agent to introduce a new system of finance and revenue. On this mission he was accompanied by Lieutenant W. A. Anderson, of the Bombay army, who had been his assistant on his mission to Gilgit, and also by Khán Sing, the dewán designate, and an escort of Sikh troops. The mission reached Multán on 18 April 1848. On the following day Agnew and Anderson were visited by Mulráj, and some discussion, not altogether harmonious, took place as to the terms upon which the province should be given over, Agnew demanding that the accounts for the six previous years should be produced. On the 20th the two English officers inspected the fort and the various establishments, and on their return to their camp in company with Mulráj were attacked and wounded (Anderson severely) by the retainers of the retiring dewán, who immediately rode off at full speed to his country residence. The two wounded Englishmen were placed by their attendants in an idgah, or fortified temple.
This incident, so important in its political results, produced a profound sensation throughout India. Both the murdered officers, though young in years (Agnew would have been twenty-six had he lived one day longer), had already established a high reputation in the public service. Anderson had some time previously attracted the favourable notice of Sir Charles Napier
in Sind
, and the duties upon which Agnew had been employed, including his last most responsible and, as the event proved, fatal mission, sufficed to show the high estimation in which his services were held. Nor was it only as a rising public servant that Patrick Vans Agnew's death was mourned. In private life his brave, modest, and unselfish nature had won the esteem and affection of all who knew him. ‘If,’ wrote Sir Herbert Edwardes to one of his nearest relatives, ‘few of our countrymen in this land of death and disease have met more untimely ends than your brother, it has seldom been the lot of any to be so honoured and lamented.’
for the Patrick Alexander Vans Agnew after Siege of Multan
. Now it is standing in Ibne-Qasim Bagh, a park in Fort Kohna in Multan.
Siege of Multan
The Siege of Multan was a prolonged contest between the city and state of Multan and the British East India Company. The siege lasted between 19 April 1848, when a rebellion in the city against a ruler imposed by the East India Company precipitated the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and 22 January 1849,...
by the retainers of Mulráj led to the Second Sikh War and to the annexation of the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
as a British province.
Biography
He was the second son of Lieutenant-colonel Patrick Vans Agnew, a Madras officer of considerable reputation, and afterwards a director of the East India CompanyEast India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. After a very successful career at Haileybury College, where he gave evidence of superior talent and of judgment and force of character in advance of his years, Agnew joined the Bengal civil service in March 1841, and in the following year commenced his official life as assistant to the commissioner of the Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
division. In December 1845 he was appointed assistant to Major Broadfoot, the superintendent of the Cis-Sutlej states, and was present at the Battle of Sobraon
Battle of Sobraon
The Battle of Sobraon was fought on 10 February 1846, between the forces of the British East India Company and the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of the Sikh Empire of the Punjab...
early in 1846. He was subsequently employed in settling the boundaries of the territory of Maharaja Gholab Sing, the new ruler of Cashmere
Cashmere
Cashmere may refer to:* Cashmere wool, wool from the Cashmere goatPlaces* Another term for Kashmir, a region of the Indian subcontinent* Cashmere, New Zealand, a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand* Cashmere, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia...
, and in a mission to Gilgit
Gilgit
Gilgit is a city in northern PakistanGilgit may refer to other terms related with the area of the city:* Gilgit River* Gilgit Valley* Gilgit District* Gilgit Agency * Gilgit Airport...
, and in the spring of 1848, being then assistant to the resident at Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, was sent to Multán with instructions to take over the government of that province from Mulráj, the dewán or governor, who had applied to be relieved of it, and to make it over to Khán Sing, another Sikh official, remaining himself in the capacity of political agent to introduce a new system of finance and revenue. On this mission he was accompanied by Lieutenant W. A. Anderson, of the Bombay army, who had been his assistant on his mission to Gilgit, and also by Khán Sing, the dewán designate, and an escort of Sikh troops. The mission reached Multán on 18 April 1848. On the following day Agnew and Anderson were visited by Mulráj, and some discussion, not altogether harmonious, took place as to the terms upon which the province should be given over, Agnew demanding that the accounts for the six previous years should be produced. On the 20th the two English officers inspected the fort and the various establishments, and on their return to their camp in company with Mulráj were attacked and wounded (Anderson severely) by the retainers of the retiring dewán, who immediately rode off at full speed to his country residence. The two wounded Englishmen were placed by their attendants in an idgah, or fortified temple.
This incident, so important in its political results, produced a profound sensation throughout India. Both the murdered officers, though young in years (Agnew would have been twenty-six had he lived one day longer), had already established a high reputation in the public service. Anderson had some time previously attracted the favourable notice of Sir Charles Napier
Charles Napier
Charles Napier may refer to:*Charles Elers Napier , British naval officer*Sir Charles James Napier , British general*Sir Charles Napier , Scottish admiral of the Royal Navy...
in Sind
Sind Division
The Sind Division was the name of Sindh after being annexed by the Bombay Presidency province of British India in 1843 , following a British Indian conquest led by then Major-General Charles Napier. The region separated from the Bombay Presidency to become the Sind Province on 1936-04-01....
, and the duties upon which Agnew had been employed, including his last most responsible and, as the event proved, fatal mission, sufficed to show the high estimation in which his services were held. Nor was it only as a rising public servant that Patrick Vans Agnew's death was mourned. In private life his brave, modest, and unselfish nature had won the esteem and affection of all who knew him. ‘If,’ wrote Sir Herbert Edwardes to one of his nearest relatives, ‘few of our countrymen in this land of death and disease have met more untimely ends than your brother, it has seldom been the lot of any to be so honoured and lamented.’
Monument of Patrick Alexander Vans Agnew
A monument was made in Fort Kohna in MultanMultan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
for the Patrick Alexander Vans Agnew after Siege of Multan
Siege of Multan
The Siege of Multan was a prolonged contest between the city and state of Multan and the British East India Company. The siege lasted between 19 April 1848, when a rebellion in the city against a ruler imposed by the East India Company precipitated the Second Anglo-Sikh War, and 22 January 1849,...
. Now it is standing in Ibne-Qasim Bagh, a park in Fort Kohna in Multan.