Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 4th Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 4th Baronet (2 January 1795 – 3 November 1853) was an East India Company
servant and agent of Governor General of India at the imperial court of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II
. He was invested with the Order of the Bath
.. He was the son of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (1745–1813), Director of the Honourable East India Company.
, London, and christened 2 on 27 Mar 1795 in St Marylebone Parish Church
, Saint Marylebone, London, England. He arrived in Delhi
in 1813 and lived there for forty years. His elder brother, Charles Metcalfe
(1785 – 1846), was Resident to the Mughal
Emperor's court, and briefly the provisional Governor General of Bengal (1835-36). He married Fe'licite Anne Browne on 13 Jul 1826.
In 1830, Metcalfe began to build the "Metcalfe House" on the outskirts of Delhi, taking land belonging to Gujjar
villagers. He filled it with his collections of art, books and relics of Napoleon. The Metcalfe House was called Matka Kothi by the bearers and khansamahs (chefs) serving Sir Thomas, as they found it difficult to pronounce the name Metcalfe.
In 1835, Metcalfe became the agent at Delhi after the murder of William Fraser and ran the "Delhi Territory", the area around the old capital under British control since 1803. He succeeded his brother as Baronet in 1844, and became an important figure in the cultural climate of Delhi
.
While working in India as the Governor-General's Agent at the Imperial court of the Mughal
Emperor, between 1842 and 1844, Metcalfe ordered a series of images of the monuments, ruins, palaces and shrines from Delhi artist named Mazhar Ali Khan, and later an album termed as Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi (also Dehlie Book or Delhi Album) was compiled by Metcalfe in 1844, containing 89 folios around 130 paintings by Indian artists , and including descriptive text and touching words and was sent to his daughter Emily as she headed from an English schooling to join him in Delhi. The album has now been acquired by the British Library
.
During the rainy season he used to stay at 'Dilkusha' (Delight of the Heart), which was built on the first floor of the tomb of Mohammed Quli Khan, brother of Adham Khan
, general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar, situated south east of the Qutb complex
in Mehrauli
, an area which was also the traditional retreat of the Mughals for the season. . While his main house was a colonial bungalow, built in 1844, its library contained over 20,000 books including Napolean memorabilia, however during the Uprising of 1857 the library was destroyed and looted .
Metcalfe was allegedly poisoned by one of Bahadur Shah
's queens in 1853. He was buried in a grave to the east of the Skinner
Family's cemetery, at the St. James' Church near Kashmiri Gate
, Delhi
. .
His son and successor, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe, 5th Baronet, was also in the Indian Civil Service. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857
, the Metcalfe House was sacked by the Gujjar villagers from whom the land was taken to erect the building.
, a Bart. MP, and finally Director of the British East India Company
(1789 -1812), and was created a baronet
on 21 December 1802 .
He died 3 on 17 Nov 1813 and buried 4 on 24 Nov 1813 in Winkfield, St. Mary, Berkshire, England. He married Susannah Sophia Selina Debonnaire on 18 Apr 1782. Their children were, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe 2nd Baronet, Charles Theophilus Metcalfe 1st Baron
(3rd Baronet) (1785-1846), Louisa Sophia Metcalfe (1787-), Selina Sophia Metcalfe (1788-1791), Emily Theophila Metcalfe, Georgiana Theophila Metcalfe, Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe 4th Baronet and Henry Theophilus Metcalfe
The second last child, Sir Thomas Metcalfe first married Grace Clark on 7 Jun 1815. Later he married Fe'licite Anne Browne on 13 Jul 1826, the couple had, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe (28 November 1828, Delhi – 8 November 1883, Paris), Emily Ann Theophila Metcalfe, Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, Georgiana Charlotte Theophila Metcalfe, Eliza Theophila Debonnaire Metcalfe and Sophia Selena Theophila Metcalfe, who died early in Oct 1841. Felicite died at Shimla
on 26 September 1842, where she was buried
and pre-Mughal monuments of Delhi
, as well as other contemporary material, had an accompanying manuscript text written by Metcalfe.
British East 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...
servant and agent of Governor General of India at the imperial court of the Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II
Bahadur Shah II
His Royal Highness Abu Zafar Sirajuddin Muhammad Bahadur Shah Zafar , also known as Bahadur Shah or Bahadur Shah II was the last of the Mughal emperors in India, as well as the last ruler of the Timurid Dynasty.He was the son of Akbar Shah II and Lalbai, who was a Hindu Rajput...
. He was invested with the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
.. He was the son of Sir Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet (1745–1813), Director of the Honourable East India Company.
Biography
Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe was born on 2 Jan 1795 at 49 Portland PlacePortland Place
Portland Place is a street in the Marylebone district of central London, England.-History and topography:The street was laid out by the brothers Robert and James Adam for the Duke of Portland in the late 18th century and originally ran north from the gardens of a detached mansion called Foley House...
, London, and christened 2 on 27 Mar 1795 in St Marylebone Parish Church
St Marylebone Parish Church
-First church:The first church for the parish was built in the vicinity of the present Marble Arch c.1200, and dedicated to St John the Evangelist.-Second church:...
, Saint Marylebone, London, England. He arrived in 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...
in 1813 and lived there for forty years. His elder brother, Charles Metcalfe
Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe
Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe, Bt, KCB, PC , known as Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bt between 1822 and 1845, was a British colonial administrator...
(1785 – 1846), was Resident to the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor's court, and briefly the provisional Governor General of Bengal (1835-36). He married Fe'licite Anne Browne on 13 Jul 1826.
In 1830, Metcalfe began to build the "Metcalfe House" on the outskirts of Delhi, taking land belonging to Gujjar
Gujjar
The Gurjar are an ethnic group in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Gurjjara and Gūrjara. The spelling Gurjara or Gurjar is preferable to the rest....
villagers. He filled it with his collections of art, books and relics of Napoleon. The Metcalfe House was called Matka Kothi by the bearers and khansamahs (chefs) serving Sir Thomas, as they found it difficult to pronounce the name Metcalfe.
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...
.
While working in India as the Governor-General's Agent at the Imperial court of the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor, between 1842 and 1844, Metcalfe ordered a series of images of the monuments, ruins, palaces and shrines from Delhi artist named Mazhar Ali Khan, and later an album termed as Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi (also Dehlie Book or Delhi Album) was compiled by Metcalfe in 1844, containing 89 folios around 130 paintings by Indian artists , and including descriptive text and touching words and was sent to his daughter Emily as she headed from an English schooling to join him in Delhi. The album has now been acquired by the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
.
During the rainy season he used to stay at 'Dilkusha' (Delight of the Heart), which was built on the first floor of the tomb of Mohammed Quli Khan, brother of Adham Khan
Adham Khan
Adham Khan was a general of Akbar. He was the younger son of Maham Anga, he thus became the foster brother of Akbar. In his fourth regnal year, Akbar married him to the daughter of Baqi Khan Baqlani.-Conquest of Malwa:...
, general of Mughal Emperor, Akbar, situated south east of the Qutb complex
Qutb complex
The Qutb complex , also spelled Qutab or Qutub, is an array of monuments and buildings at Mehrauli in Delhi, India. The construction of Qutb Minar was intended as a Victory Tower, to celebrate the victory of Mohammed Ghori over Rajput king, Prithviraj Chauhan, in 1192 AD, by his then viceroy,...
in Mehrauli
Mehrauli
Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in the South West district of Delhi in India. It represents a constituency in the legislative assembly of Delhi. The area is located close to Gurgaon.-History:...
, an area which was also the traditional retreat of the Mughals for the season. . While his main house was a colonial bungalow, built in 1844, its library contained over 20,000 books including Napolean memorabilia, however during the Uprising of 1857 the library was destroyed and looted .
Metcalfe was allegedly poisoned by one of Bahadur Shah
Bahadur Shah II
His Royal Highness Abu Zafar Sirajuddin Muhammad Bahadur Shah Zafar , also known as Bahadur Shah or Bahadur Shah II was the last of the Mughal emperors in India, as well as the last ruler of the Timurid Dynasty.He was the son of Akbar Shah II and Lalbai, who was a Hindu Rajput...
's queens in 1853. He was buried in a grave to the east of the Skinner
James Skinner (soldier)
James Skinner CB was an Anglo-Indian military adventurer in India, who became known as Sikandar Sahib later in life, and most known for two cavalry regiments he raised for the British, later known as 1st Skinner's Horse and 3rd Skinner's Horse at Hansi in 1803, which still are a part of the...
Family's cemetery, at the St. James' Church near Kashmiri Gate
Kashmiri Gate (Delhi)
The Kashmiri Gate is a gate located in Delhi, it is the northern gate to the historic walled city of Delhi...
, 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...
. .
His son and successor, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe, 5th Baronet, was also in the Indian Civil Service. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
, the Metcalfe House was sacked by the Gujjar villagers from whom the land was taken to erect the building.
Family
His father was Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baronet, born on 8 Jan 1745 in Throstle Nest, Gisborough, Cleveland, England. ,He first went to India in 1767 as a cadet in the King’s Army, after wards he became a major in the Bengal ArmyBengal Army
The Bengal Army was the army of the Presidency of Bengal, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia. Although based in Bengal in eastern India, the presidency stretched across northern India and the Himalayas all the way to the North West Frontier Province...
, a Bart. MP, and finally Director of the British East India Company
British East 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...
(1789 -1812), and was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
on 21 December 1802 .
He died 3 on 17 Nov 1813 and buried 4 on 24 Nov 1813 in Winkfield, St. Mary, Berkshire, England. He married Susannah Sophia Selina Debonnaire on 18 Apr 1782. Their children were, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe 2nd Baronet, Charles Theophilus Metcalfe 1st Baron
Charles Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe
Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, 1st Baron Metcalfe, Bt, KCB, PC , known as Sir Charles Metcalfe, Bt between 1822 and 1845, was a British colonial administrator...
(3rd Baronet) (1785-1846), Louisa Sophia Metcalfe (1787-), Selina Sophia Metcalfe (1788-1791), Emily Theophila Metcalfe, Georgiana Theophila Metcalfe, Sir Thomas Theophilus Metcalfe 4th Baronet and Henry Theophilus Metcalfe
The second last child, Sir Thomas Metcalfe first married Grace Clark on 7 Jun 1815. Later he married Fe'licite Anne Browne on 13 Jul 1826, the couple had, Sir Theophilus John Metcalfe (28 November 1828, Delhi – 8 November 1883, Paris), Emily Ann Theophila Metcalfe, Charles Theophilus Metcalfe, Georgiana Charlotte Theophila Metcalfe, Eliza Theophila Debonnaire Metcalfe and Sophia Selena Theophila Metcalfe, who died early in Oct 1841. Felicite died at Shimla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
on 26 September 1842, where she was buried
Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi
'Reminiscences of Imperial Delhi’, an album consisting of 89 folios containing approximately 130 paintings of views of the MughalMughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
and pre-Mughal monuments of 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...
, as well as other contemporary material, had an accompanying manuscript text written by Metcalfe.
Further reading
- The Golden Calm: an English lady's life in Moghul Delhi : reminiscences by Emily, Lady Clive Bayley, and by her father Sir Thomas Metcalfe, by Emily Bayley, Thomas Metcalfe, edited by M.M. Kaye. Published by Webb & Bower.
- Thomas Metcalf. Imperial Connections: India in the Indian Ocean Arena, 1860–1920 Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-520-24946-2.
- Metcalfe History www.metcalfhistory.com
External links
- About the Delhi Book The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- 'The Delhi Book' of Thomas Metcalfe British LibraryBritish LibraryThe British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...