Robert Durie Osborn
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Durie Osborn (1835–1889) was a British
army
officer. Osborn was born at Agra
, India
, on 6 Aug. 1835. His father, Henry Roche Osborn, entered the British East India Company
's service in May 1819, and served most of his time in the 54th Native Infantry, but later was lieutenant-colonel of the 13th Native Infantry; he died at Ferozepore in 1849.
, and was appointed ensign of the 26th Bengal Native Infantry
16 Aug. 1854, becoming lieutenant
on 31 July 1857. He served throughout the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857–1859, and was present in the actions of Boolundshuhur on 27 Sept., and of Allyghur on 5 Oct. 1857. He commanded a detachment of the 4th Punjab infantry at the actions of Gungeree and Puttiallee, was present in various operations against the rebels in the Agra district
, served with Colonel Troup's column in Oude in November 1858, and took part in the action at Biswah. From January to May 1859, he was with the Saugor field force under General Whitelock; then he commanded a field detachment in the Ooraie district, and later defeated a party of rebels at Tudhoorkee. In 1859–60 he was with the Bundelcund field force under Brigadier Wheeler, and for his services received a medal. He was made lieutenant in the Bengal Staff Corps 30 July 1857 and captain 20 Dec. 1865. On 25 Aug. 1859, he became adjutant of the 2nd regiment of Sikh irregular cavalry, a regiment converted into the 12th regiment of Bengal
cavalry
in 1861, in which Osborn was third squad officer from 4 Nov. 1865 to 17 May 1866. He was captain in his regiment 8 June 1868 to 1872. In the latter year he was appointed tutor to the Paikharah wards, became major 20 Dec. 1873, and retired with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1879. He served through the Afghan campaign
of that year, but retired after the signing of the Treaty of Gandamak
.
, and occasionally wrote papers in the magazines on Maurice's religious position and influence. While in India, he was a conscientious student of Eastern religion
s, and spent fourteen years in studying materials for his two works, Islam under the Arabs, 1876, and Islam under the Khalifs of Baghdad, 1877; 2nd ed. 1880. These books are highly valued by serious students. They are considered models of lucid and graceful treatment of a perplexing subject. At the same time, Osborn was always a zealous advocate of the rights of the native India
ns, and his retirement from the army was largely due to his dissatisfaction with the policy of Lord Lytton, which, in his opinion, outraged native sentiment and needlessly provoked the Afghan war of 1879. Upon his return from India, he settled at Hampstead
, and mainly devoted himself to journalistic and literary work. He became London correspondent of the Calcutta Statesman
, and took a leading part in the conduct of the London office of the Statesman, which was published for a few months in 1879 and 1880 with a view to resisting Benjamin Disraeli's policy in India. In The Scotsman
, The Nation
, and The Contemporary Review, he also wrote much on India and on native claims to popular government.
on Good Friday
, 19 April 1889, while engaged playing a match with Ernest Renshaw
, the champion of all England, at the Hyde Park, London
tennis court
in England
. He married at Trinity Church, Bayswater
, 12 Nov. 1864, to Edith, daughter of the Rev. Gregory Rhodes, by whom he had two daughters.
An oil
portrait
of Osborn was painted by Mr. J. R. Hodgson, R.A., in 1877, and was exhibited in the Royal Academy. It was presented to Osborn by the artist, and it passed on to his family.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
officer. Osborn was born at Agra
Agra
Agra a.k.a. Akbarabad is a city on the banks of the river Yamuna in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, west of state capital, Lucknow and south from national capital New Delhi. With a population of 1,686,976 , it is one of the most populous cities in Uttar Pradesh and the 19th most...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, on 6 Aug. 1835. His father, Henry Roche Osborn, entered 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...
's service in May 1819, and served most of his time in the 54th Native Infantry, but later was lieutenant-colonel of the 13th Native Infantry; he died at Ferozepore in 1849.
Military career
Robert was educated as a cadet at Dr. Greig's school at WalthamstowWalthamstow
Walthamstow is a district of northeast London, England, located in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. It is situated north-east of Charing Cross...
, and was appointed ensign of the 26th Bengal Native Infantry
Bengal Native Infantry
The Bengal Native Infantry was part of the organisation of the East India Company's Bengal Army before the Indian rebellion of 1857.The infantry regiments underwent frequent changes of numbering during their period of existence...
16 Aug. 1854, becoming lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on 31 July 1857. He served throughout the Indian Mutiny campaign of 1857–1859, and was present in the actions of Boolundshuhur on 27 Sept., and of Allyghur on 5 Oct. 1857. He commanded a detachment of the 4th Punjab infantry at the actions of Gungeree and Puttiallee, was present in various operations against the rebels in the Agra district
Agra District
Agra District is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and the historical city of Agra is the district headquarters. Agra district is a part of Agra division.-Geography:...
, served with Colonel Troup's column in Oude in November 1858, and took part in the action at Biswah. From January to May 1859, he was with the Saugor field force under General Whitelock; then he commanded a field detachment in the Ooraie district, and later defeated a party of rebels at Tudhoorkee. In 1859–60 he was with the Bundelcund field force under Brigadier Wheeler, and for his services received a medal. He was made lieutenant in the Bengal Staff Corps 30 July 1857 and captain 20 Dec. 1865. On 25 Aug. 1859, he became adjutant of the 2nd regiment of Sikh irregular cavalry, a regiment converted into the 12th regiment of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in 1861, in which Osborn was third squad officer from 4 Nov. 1865 to 17 May 1866. He was captain in his regiment 8 June 1868 to 1872. In the latter year he was appointed tutor to the Paikharah wards, became major 20 Dec. 1873, and retired with the honorary rank of lieutenant-colonel on 1 May 1879. He served through the Afghan campaign
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 that year, but retired after the signing of the Treaty of Gandamak
Treaty of Gandamak
The Treaty of Gandamak officially ended the first phase of the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Afghanistan ceded various frontier areas to Britain to prevent invasion of further areas of the country....
.
Writings
Osborn was a serious thinker on both religious and political topics. As a young man he enjoyed the friendship of F. D. Maurice and of Charles KingsleyCharles Kingsley
Charles Kingsley was an English priest of the Church of England, university professor, historian and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire.-Life and character:...
, and occasionally wrote papers in the magazines on Maurice's religious position and influence. While in India, he was a conscientious student of Eastern religion
Eastern religion
This article is about far east and Indian religions. For other eastern religions see: Eastern_world#Eastern_cultureEastern religions refers to religions originating in the Eastern world —India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia —and thus having dissimilarities with Western religions...
s, and spent fourteen years in studying materials for his two works, Islam under the Arabs, 1876, and Islam under the Khalifs of Baghdad, 1877; 2nd ed. 1880. These books are highly valued by serious students. They are considered models of lucid and graceful treatment of a perplexing subject. At the same time, Osborn was always a zealous advocate of the rights of the native India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns, and his retirement from the army was largely due to his dissatisfaction with the policy of Lord Lytton, which, in his opinion, outraged native sentiment and needlessly provoked the Afghan war of 1879. Upon his return from India, he settled at Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, and mainly devoted himself to journalistic and literary work. He became London correspondent of the Calcutta Statesman
The Statesman
The Statesman is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper founded in 1875 and published simultaneously in Kolkata, New Delhi, Siliguri and Bhubaneswar. The Statesman is owned by The Statesman Ltd., its headquarters at Statesman House, Chowringhee Square, Calcutta and its national...
, and took a leading part in the conduct of the London office of the Statesman, which was published for a few months in 1879 and 1880 with a view to resisting Benjamin Disraeli's policy in India. In The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, and The Contemporary Review, he also wrote much on India and on native claims to popular government.
Personal life
Osborn was an indefatigable lawn tennis player. He died of syncopeSyncope (medicine)
Syncope , the medical term for fainting, is precisely defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery due to global cerebral hypoperfusion that most often results from hypotension.Many forms of syncope are...
on Good Friday
Good Friday
Good Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, 19 April 1889, while engaged playing a match with Ernest Renshaw
Ernest Renshaw
Ernest Renshaw was an English tennis player.Together with his twin brother William Renshaw, Ernest won the men's doubles at Wimbledon five times. He also won the singles championship at Wimbledon once, in 1888 and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1983...
, the champion of all England, at the Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He married at Trinity Church, Bayswater
Bayswater
Bayswater is an area of west London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the west . It is a built-up district located 3 miles west-north-west of Charing Cross, bordering the north of Hyde Park over Kensington Gardens and having a population density of...
, 12 Nov. 1864, to Edith, daughter of the Rev. Gregory Rhodes, by whom he had two daughters.
An oil
Oil painting
Oil painting is the process of painting with pigments that are bound with a medium of drying oil—especially in early modern Europe, linseed oil. Often an oil such as linseed was boiled with a resin such as pine resin or even frankincense; these were called 'varnishes' and were prized for their body...
portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
of Osborn was painted by Mr. J. R. Hodgson, R.A., in 1877, and was exhibited in the Royal Academy. It was presented to Osborn by the artist, and it passed on to his family.
Works
- Friends of the Foreigner in the Nineteenth Century: a Critique, 1879
- Lawn Tennis: its Players and how to Play, 1881; 2nd edit. 1884.