Isaac Coffin
Encyclopedia
Sir Isaac Campbell Coffin KCSI
(bap.
24 August 1801 – 1 October 1872) was an officer of the East India Company
's military service who served during the company's rule in India
, the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Indian Mutiny. He rose to the rank of major-general
after a long career in India.
, Kent
. After receiving his education, part of which took place in France, he joined the military arm of the East India Company on 3 June 1818, and sailed to India, arriving on 12 January 1819. In 1821 he was posted as lieutenant to the 21st Madras Pioneers, and from 4 June 1824 he served as adjutant
to the 12th Madras Native Infantry
. The company took part in the First Anglo-Burmese War, and Coffin was present at the attacks on Rangoon on 9 and 15 December 1824.
, interpreter, and paymaster
to the 12th Madras Native Infantry from 27 October 1826, and was advanced to captain
on 26 July 1828. Further posts and promotions saw Coffin appointed paymaster to the Nagpur subsidiary force on 30 June 1829, and paymaster in Mysore on 7 January 1834. Coffin was promoted to major on 24 July 1840, and then to lieutenant-colonel on 15 September 1845, being appointed to the 3rd (Palamcottah) regiment
of the Madras native light infantry several weeks later on 7 October 1845.
He was raised to colonel on 20 June 1854, taking command of the Hyderabad subsidiary force from 6 November 1855 and commanding them with the rank of brigadier
during the Indian Mutiny. Coffin was promoted to major-general
on 29 May 1857, after the mutiny had been put down. He took command of a division of the Madras army from 28 March 1859 to 28 March 1864, and was finally promoted to lieutenant-general on 18 July 1869.
in 1866. He had married Marianne Harrington on 12 February 1824, and on her death on 13 February 1864 he remarried. His wife this time was Catharine Eliza Shepherd. General Isaac Coffin died suddenly on 1 October 1872, at his home at 9 St John's Park South, Blackheath
, London. He was survived by his wife and several children.
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...
(bap.
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
24 August 1801 – 1 October 1872) was an officer of the East India Company
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...
's military service who served during the company's rule in India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
, the First Anglo-Burmese War and the Indian Mutiny. He rose to the rank of major-general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
after a long career in India.
Family and early life
Coffin was born c. 1801, the son of Admiral Francis Holmes Coffin and baptized on 24 August 1801 at St Mary the Virgin, DoverDover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. After receiving his education, part of which took place in France, he joined the military arm of the East India Company on 3 June 1818, and sailed to India, arriving on 12 January 1819. In 1821 he was posted as lieutenant to the 21st Madras Pioneers, and from 4 June 1824 he served as adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
to the 12th Madras Native Infantry
72nd Punjabis
The 72nd Punjabis were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1759, when they were raised as the 16th Battalion Coast Sepoys....
. The company took part in the First Anglo-Burmese War, and Coffin was present at the attacks on Rangoon on 9 and 15 December 1824.
Promotions
A series of posts followed, Coffin was quartermasterQuartermaster
Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations depending on if the assigned unit is land based or naval.In land armies, especially US units, it is a term referring to either an individual soldier or a unit who specializes in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. The senior...
, interpreter, and paymaster
Paymaster
A paymaster often is, but is not required to be, a lawyer . When dealing with commission payments on contracts dealing with large amounts of money , most banks in the United States are very wary of handling such large amounts of money...
to the 12th Madras Native Infantry from 27 October 1826, and was advanced to captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 26 July 1828. Further posts and promotions saw Coffin appointed paymaster to the Nagpur subsidiary force on 30 June 1829, and paymaster in Mysore on 7 January 1834. Coffin was promoted to major on 24 July 1840, and then to lieutenant-colonel on 15 September 1845, being appointed to the 3rd (Palamcottah) regiment
63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry
The 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment could trace its origins to 1759, when it was raised as the 4th Battalion Coast Sepoys.-History:...
of the Madras native light infantry several weeks later on 7 October 1845.
He was raised to colonel on 20 June 1854, taking command of the Hyderabad subsidiary force from 6 November 1855 and commanding them with the rank of brigadier
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
during the Indian Mutiny. Coffin was promoted to major-general
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
on 29 May 1857, after the mutiny had been put down. He took command of a division of the Madras army from 28 March 1859 to 28 March 1864, and was finally promoted to lieutenant-general on 18 July 1869.
Family and later life
Coffin was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of IndiaOrder 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...
in 1866. He had married Marianne Harrington on 12 February 1824, and on her death on 13 February 1864 he remarried. His wife this time was Catharine Eliza Shepherd. General Isaac Coffin died suddenly on 1 October 1872, at his home at 9 St John's Park South, Blackheath
Blackheath
Blackheath is the name of a number of places:*Blackheath, London, England**Blackheath, Kent *Blackheath, Surrey, England**Blackheath, Surrey *Blackheath, West Midlands, England*Blackheath, New South Wales, Australia...
, London. He was survived by his wife and several children.