Henry Lindsay Bethune
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Lindsay Bethune (1792–1851) was an English officer and a member of a diplomatic and military mission led by John Malcolm
to the Persian Empire in 1810.
Henry Lindsay was initially an artillery Lieutenant in the Madras Horse Artillery. With a height of 6 feet 8 inches, he is said to have impressed the Persians who compared him to the mythical hero Rustam. His qualities of justice and his knowledge of the world also seem to have greatly impressed the Persians.
Henry Lindsay was first put in charge of modernizing the corps of horse artillery. In 1816, Henry Lindsay Bethune received the Persian decoration of the Order of the Lion and the Sun
, specially reserved for meritous foreigners. After several years, he finally resigned from the Indian service, and retired to Scotland
in Kilconquhar. According to the 19th century British diplomat Sir Justin Sheil:
In 1834, he was recalled for service in Persia in anticipation of troubles in the dynastic succession on the Persian throne. Following the death of Fath Ali Shah that same year, he commanded the advanced Divisions of the Persian Army between Tabriz
and Teheran. He supported the succession of the Shah's grandson Mohammad Shah Qajar
, and eliminated a serious rebellion led by the Prince of Shiraz
.
Henry Lindsay returned to England, but was again sent to Persia in 1836 to become Major General
in the Persian Army, until his retirement in 1839 following a disagreement with the Persian government over the Persian attacks on Herat
in Afghanistan
(a territory claimed by Great Britain).
In the wake of the Herat affair, Great Britain would remove its military and diplomatic missions from Persia, and occupy Kharg island
and attack Bushehr
. Mohammad Shah Qajar
would in turn resume diplomatic relations with France, and send a diplomatic mission to Louis-Philippe under Mirza Hossein Khan
to obtain military help. In response, a group of French officers was sent to Persia with the returning ambassador.
Henry Lindsay Bethune died in Persia in 1851. Relations between the two countries would soon worsen further with the Anglo-Persian War
.
John Malcolm
Major-general Sir John Malcolm was a Scottish soldier, statesman, and historian-Early life:Born at Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, Malcolm was the son of George Malcolm, a gentleman farmer of Eskdale and Burnfoot. Jock, as he was then known, was one of the four Malcolm brothers who attained knighthoods...
to the Persian Empire in 1810.
Henry Lindsay was initially an artillery Lieutenant in the Madras Horse Artillery. With a height of 6 feet 8 inches, he is said to have impressed the Persians who compared him to the mythical hero Rustam. His qualities of justice and his knowledge of the world also seem to have greatly impressed the Persians.
Henry Lindsay was first put in charge of modernizing the corps of horse artillery. In 1816, Henry Lindsay Bethune received the Persian decoration of the Order of the Lion and the Sun
Order of the Lion and the Sun
The Order of the Lion and the Sun was instituted by Fat’h Ali Shah of the Qajar Dynasty in 1808 to honour foreign officials who had rendered distinguished services to Persia. In 1925, under the Pahlavi dynasty the Order continued as the Order of Homayoun with new insignia, though based on the...
, specially reserved for meritous foreigners. After several years, he finally resigned from the Indian service, and retired to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in Kilconquhar. According to the 19th century British diplomat Sir Justin Sheil:
In 1834, he was recalled for service in Persia in anticipation of troubles in the dynastic succession on the Persian throne. Following the death of Fath Ali Shah that same year, he commanded the advanced Divisions of the Persian Army between Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
and Teheran. He supported the succession of the Shah's grandson Mohammad Shah Qajar
Mohammad Shah Qajar
Mohammad Shah Qajar was king of Persia from the Qajar dynasty .- Rise to power :...
, and eliminated a serious rebellion led by the Prince of Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
.
Henry Lindsay returned to England, but was again sent to Persia in 1836 to become Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Persian Army, until his retirement in 1839 following a disagreement with the Persian government over the Persian attacks on Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
(a territory claimed by Great Britain).
In the wake of the Herat affair, Great Britain would remove its military and diplomatic missions from Persia, and occupy Kharg island
Kharg Island
Kharg Island is a continental island in the Persian Gulf belonging to Iran. The island is located off the coast of Iran and northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. Administered by the adjacent coastal Bushehr Province, Kharg Island provides a sea port for the export of oil and extends Iranian...
and attack Bushehr
Bushehr
Bushehr Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast of southwestern Iran. It is the chief seaport of the country and the administrative centre of its province. Its location is about south of Tehran. The local climate is hot and humid.The city...
. Mohammad Shah Qajar
Mohammad Shah Qajar
Mohammad Shah Qajar was king of Persia from the Qajar dynasty .- Rise to power :...
would in turn resume diplomatic relations with France, and send a diplomatic mission to Louis-Philippe under Mirza Hossein Khan
Mirza Hossein Khan
Mirza Hossein Khan Ajudan Bashi was a 19th century Persian diplomat. He was sent to France in 1839 by the Persian ruler Mohammad Shah Qajar following the conflict between Persia and Great Britain over the possession of Herat in Afghanistan...
to obtain military help. In response, a group of French officers was sent to Persia with the returning ambassador.
Henry Lindsay Bethune died in Persia in 1851. Relations between the two countries would soon worsen further with the Anglo-Persian War
Anglo-Persian War
The Anglo-Persian War lasted between November 1, 1856 and April 4, 1857, and was fought between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Persia . In the war, the British opposed an attempt by Persia to reacquire the city of Herat...
.