Major-General Sir David Ochterlony Bt, 1816 (c)

Oil on canvas, artist unknown, 1816 (c).

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, David Ochterlony (1758-1825) was the son of a Scottish gentleman who had settled in America. He joined the Bengal Army in 1777 as an ensign in the 24th Native Infantry. During the 2nd Mysore War (1780-1784), he was wounded and taken prisoner by the forces of Haidar Ali.

In less than 20 years, after a series of rapid promotions, Ochterlony was in command of the regiment during the 2nd Maratha War (1803-1805). In 1814 he was appointed major-general and was given the command of the 1st Division during the Gurkha War of 1814-1816. In recognition of his services during this campaign, he was created a baronet and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1815. The following year, he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), and so became the first East India Company officer to receive that honour.

In 1818 Ochterlony was appointed Resident at Rajputana and then at Delhi. By 1822, he was Resident of both Malwa and Rajputana, responsible for the whole of Central India. Later, when the Governor-General, Lord Amherst, countermanded his orders in the field, he resigned in protest. It is said that this rebuff hastened Ochterlony's death, just three months after leaving the service. However, the wisdom of his strategy, founded on 48 years' military experience, was subsequently vindicated. A column was erected to his memory in Calcutta in 1828 which is now known as the Shahid Minar (the Martyr's Memorial).