Major Duncan Montgomerie, 7th Madras Light Cavalry, 1840 (c)

Oil on canvas, artist unknown, 1840 (c).

After completing his studies as a cadet at Fort St George, Montgomerie (1789-1878) spent his career engaged on surveys and mapmaking. He was on survey during the Pindari War of 1816, and in 1819 he was posted to the Survey of the Deccan under the Commissioner of Poona. From 1824 he was appointed Deputy Surveyor General for Madras until the post was abolished in 1833. During this time he held a commission in the 7th Madras Light Cavalry and he is depicted wearing the distinctive French grey uniform of these cavalry regiments, adopted in 1818.