#2740, John Cumming ANDERSON

Baptised at Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland.

Following the death, probably from dysentry, of this highly successful and much-loved officer a number of papers carried obituaries, two of which are reproduced below:

THE BOMBAY GAZETTE Oct. 19th 1870
The death of Colonel J C Anderson, RE of the Madras army, is a loss, not only to his friends, but to the Empire. He was a man of great accomplishments, and one of the most profound mathematicians, both theoretically and practically in India. His knowledge of irrigation was extensive and sound. Moreover he had the crown of merit: he was a modest, unassuming gentleman.

ALLEN'S INDIAN MAIL Nov. 1st 1870 (front page)
We are sorry to record the death on 12th October, at Simlah, of Col. J C Anderson, C.S.I., of Madras Engineers. As captain Anderson he played a conspicuous part in the defence of Lucknow during the Mutiny, succeeding Fulton in command of the Engineer staff. Col. Anderson later became Consulting Railway Engineer to Government, and rose in due time to the post of Chief Engineer for Irrigation Works in the Madras presidency. In 1869 he succeeded Col. Stracey as Inspector General of Irrigation and Jount Secretary for Public Works to the Indian Goverment.
His great abilities as an Engineer Officer were set off by a nature at once modest and amiable, which rendered him popular alike with his brother officers and his subordinates.

These obituaries are taken from "The Life and Times of John Cumming Anderson (1825-1870) and his family" by Dr Virginia van der Lande (#2008). This book was truly a labour of love and demonstrates the author's extraordinary combination of intellectual ability and capacity for persistent hard work. Thr Trust is privileged to have been given a copy,