Robert Warburton
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Sir Robert Warburton, KCIE
, CSI
(11 July 1842 - 22 April 1899), was an Anglo-Indian
soldier and administrator.
. The latter's father, John Warburton MP, served under General Wolfe
at Quebec
in 1759.
in 1842.
Robert's mother was an Afghan woman, sometimes said to be a "niece" of Dost Mahommed Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, but there is no evidence for this assertion; it is common in Afghanistan to refer to a person of importance as "uncle." She had a son by a previous marriage, Jan Dad Khan (1840-1919), who later took the surname of his stepfather, and became John Paul Warburton. It is likely that the lady escaped from her Afghan husband and was given asylum by the British. These British interferences with Afghan women (rather than cases of outright lechery, which must have been exceedingly rare) were a major factor in inflaming Afghan sentiments and precipitating the revolt against the British. Warburton's date of birth would indicate that the wedding (invalid according to Islamic law) is likely to have taken place precisely around the time of the massacre of Sir Alexander Burnes in November, 1841. Jan Dad (John Paul) was a distinguished detective of the Punjab
police, received the CIE
, and was the model for Rudyard Kipling
's character Strickland.
Warburton was educated at Kensington Grammar School and Addiscombe
and entered the Royal Artillery
in 1861. He took part in the Abyssinian War of 1867-68, and then joined the Bengal Staff Corps. He served with distinction in the expedition against the Utman Khel in 1878 and in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
of 1878-80.
Soon after the British government
had made permanent arrangements for keeping open the Khyber Pass
, Warburton was appointed as political officer for the district. He held this post from 1879 to 1882 with intervals of other duty, and continuously from 1882 until 1890, discharging its duties with conspicuous ability.
He turned the rude levies which formed the Khyber Rifles
into a fine corps, ready to serve the Indian government wherever they might be required. He made the road safe, kept the Afridis friendly, and won the thanks of the Punjab government for his good work, expressed in a special order upon his retirement.
When the Afridis began to cause anxiety in 1897, Colonel Warburton was asked by the government of India if he would assist in quieting the excitement amongst them. He declared himself ready to do so, but in the meantime the trouble had come to a head and control over the Khyber Pass was lost. Colonel Warburton took part in the campaign which followed; at its close his active career ended.
on 22 April 1899, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
. He married and has descendants.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Sir Robert Warburton, KCIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, CSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(11 July 1842 - 22 April 1899), was an Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indian
Anglo-Indians are people who have mixed Indian and British ancestry, or people of British descent born or living in India, now mainly historical in the latter sense. British residents in India used the term "Eurasians" for people of mixed European and Indian descent...
soldier and administrator.
Ancestry
Warburton was the son of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Warburton (1812-1863), a younger son of Richard Warburton, of Garryhinch, Queen's County, IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The latter's father, John Warburton MP, served under General Wolfe
James Wolfe
Major General James P. Wolfe was a British Army officer, known for his training reforms but remembered chiefly for his victory over the French in Canada...
at Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1759.
Early life
His father, then in service with the Bengal Artillery, was taken prisoner at KabulKabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
in 1842.
Robert's mother was an Afghan woman, sometimes said to be a "niece" of Dost Mahommed Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, but there is no evidence for this assertion; it is common in Afghanistan to refer to a person of importance as "uncle." She had a son by a previous marriage, Jan Dad Khan (1840-1919), who later took the surname of his stepfather, and became John Paul Warburton. It is likely that the lady escaped from her Afghan husband and was given asylum by the British. These British interferences with Afghan women (rather than cases of outright lechery, which must have been exceedingly rare) were a major factor in inflaming Afghan sentiments and precipitating the revolt against the British. Warburton's date of birth would indicate that the wedding (invalid according to Islamic law) is likely to have taken place precisely around the time of the massacre of Sir Alexander Burnes in November, 1841. Jan Dad (John Paul) was a distinguished detective 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...
police, received the CIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, and was the model for Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
's character Strickland.
Warburton was educated at Kensington Grammar School and Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
and entered the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1861. He took part in the Abyssinian War of 1867-68, and then joined the Bengal Staff Corps. He served with distinction in the expedition against the Utman Khel in 1878 and in the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
of 1878-80.
Soon after the British government
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
had made permanent arrangements for keeping open the Khyber Pass
Khyber Pass
The Khyber Pass, is a mountain pass linking Pakistan and Afghanistan.The Pass was an integral part of the ancient Silk Road. It is mentioned in the Bible as the "Pesh Habor," and it is one of the oldest known passes in the world....
, Warburton was appointed as political officer for the district. He held this post from 1879 to 1882 with intervals of other duty, and continuously from 1882 until 1890, discharging its duties with conspicuous ability.
He turned the rude levies which formed the Khyber Rifles
Khyber Rifles
The Khyber Rifles is a para-military force forming part of the modern Pakistan Army's Frontier Corps. Dating from the late nineteenth century the regiment provided the title and setting for a widely read novel, King of the Khyber Rifles....
into a fine corps, ready to serve the Indian government wherever they might be required. He made the road safe, kept the Afridis friendly, and won the thanks of the Punjab government for his good work, expressed in a special order upon his retirement.
When the Afridis began to cause anxiety in 1897, Colonel Warburton was asked by the government of India if he would assist in quieting the excitement amongst them. He declared himself ready to do so, but in the meantime the trouble had come to a head and control over the Khyber Pass was lost. Colonel Warburton took part in the campaign which followed; at its close his active career ended.
Later life
He occupied his leisure in retirement by writing his memoirs, . He died at KensingtonKensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
on 22 April 1899, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
. He married and has descendants.
Titles
- 1842-1862: Robert Warburton
- 1862-1880: Second-Lieutenant Robert Warburton
- 1880-1881: Brevet Major Robert Warburton
- 1881-1887: Major Robert Warburton
- 1887-1890: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Warburton
- 1890-1893: Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Warburton, CSI
- 1893-1898: Colonel Robert Warburton, CSI
- 1898-1899: Colonel Sir Robert Warburton, KCIE, CSI
Honours
- Companion of the Order of the Star of IndiaOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
(CSI), 1890 - Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian EmpireOrder of the Indian EmpireThe Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
(KCIE), 1898