Benjamin Simpson facts for kids

Sir Benjamin Simpson (born March 31, 1831 – died June 27, 1923) was a British doctor and photographer. He worked as a high-ranking medical officer, called a Surgeon-General, in the Indian Medical Service Bengal from 1853 to 1890. This service provided medical care in India when it was part of the British Empire.

Simpson was also a talented photographer. He took many pictures in the late 1800s in places like Kandahar, Quetta, and Bombay. His photos showed important landmarks and everyday life. Many of his pictures were collected in special albums. Sometimes, his photos were mixed with those taken by other photographers, like John Burke (photographer). This makes it hard to know for sure who took every picture.

A Photographer's Journey

Benjamin Simpson was very interested in photography. He joined the Bengal Photographic Society, a group for photographers in India.

Documenting People and Places

In 1862, Simpson created 80 photographs called Racial Types of Northern India. These pictures showed different groups of people living in northern India. He displayed these photos at the London International Exhibition, a big event where countries showed off their achievements. Simpson won a gold medal for his work!

He also traveled to Assam in 1867 and 1868. There, he took pictures that were used as illustrations for a book called Descriptive ethnology of Bengal, published in 1872. His photographs were also featured in a large eight-volume series titled The People of India, which came out between 1868 and 1875. These books helped people learn about the diverse cultures and people of India.

War Photography

Simpson also photographed scenes during the Second Afghan War, which took place from 1879 to 1880. He captured images in Kandahar, Afghanistan, showing parts of the conflict. These war photographs were later published by a company called Bourne & Shepherd.

Honors and Recognition

On February 15, 1887, Sir Benjamin Simpson received a special honor. He was among the first group of people to be appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE). This was a very important award given by the British Crown for service to the Indian Empire.

Gallery

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  Chilzina in Kandahar circa 1881

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  Courtyard of Wali Sher Ali in 1881

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  Ruins of the old Kandahar Citadel, 1881