Captain Hugh Johnson (1805-1874), 26th Bengal Native Infantry, 1840 (c)

Miniature portrait in watercolour on ivory, school of Jivan Ram (fl 1825-1844), Delhi, India, 1840 (c).

Hugh Johnson was an ensign to the 26th Bengal Native Infantry from March 1824. He was promoted lieutenant in 1825 and captain in 1837. That year he was posted to the Hissar Stud and from 1838 to 1840 was in the Pay and Commissariat Department of the Shah Shuja's army. During the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842), Johnson took part in the Battle of Ghazni of 1839. On 11 January 1842, during the Kabul Insurrection, he was taken hostage by the Afghan Chief, Akbar Khan. Released in September that year, he was reappointed Sub-Assistant Commissary General in December 1852 but went on furlough in January 1849 until his retirement with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1850.