Eldred Pottinger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eldred Pottinger
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Sketch by Vincent Eyre
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| Born | 12 August 1811 |
| Died | 15 November 1843 (aged 32) |
| Relatives | Henry Pottinger (uncle) |
Eldred Pottinger (born August 12, 1811 – died November 15, 1843) was a brave Anglo-Indian army officer and diplomat. He became famous in 1837 when he was in Herat, a city in Afghanistan. A large Persian army, supported by Russian officers, surrounded Herat. Eldred Pottinger helped the Afghan defenders fight off the attackers. Because of his courage, British historians later called him the "Hero of Herat."
Contents
Eldred Pottinger's Life Story
Eldred Pottinger was born in Ireland on August 12, 1811. His family lived in County Down, which is now part of Northern Ireland. He went to a special military school called Addiscombe Military Seminary from 1826 to 1827. After finishing school, he joined the Bombay Artillery in 1827.
Early Career and Adventures
After working in the army for a few years, Eldred Pottinger joined the political department. This department dealt with relations between different countries and rulers. His uncle, Colonel Henry Pottinger, was in charge of this department.
In 1837, Eldred Pottinger went on a secret journey through Afghanistan. He was disguised so no one would know he was a British officer. When he reached the city of Herat, he found it was about to be attacked. A large army from Persia, with some Russian officers helping them, was ready to lay siege to the city.
The Siege of Herat
Pottinger quickly revealed who he was to the Afghan commander in Herat. He offered his help to defend the city. The Persian army attacked with great force, but the people of Herat fought back bravely. Eldred Pottinger's leadership and encouragement helped them succeed. After a year, the siege was finally lifted, and the Persian army left.
For his amazing service, Pottinger received many honors. The governor-general, the Earl of Auckland, thanked him. He was promoted to major and also received the C.B. award. He was then made the Political Officer in Herat.
Challenges in Afghanistan
In 1841, Pottinger was working in Kohistan. This was when a rebellion started against Shah Shuja, the ruler supported by the British. Pottinger and the Gurkha soldiers he was with took shelter in a fort called Charikar. They were under siege for fourteen days.
After this, Major Pottinger made a very dangerous journey to Kabul. Less than two weeks after he arrived, a British official named Sir William Macnaghten was killed. Pottinger then took over his important job as the envoy to the Afghan court.
Negotiations and Captivity
The British military leaders were not ready to fight, so it seemed impossible to resist the Afghan rebels. The only option was to negotiate for the British army to leave safely. Pottinger himself became one of the hostages given to Akbar Khan, an Afghan leader.
Being a hostage saved him from a terrible event. Almost all the British and Sepoy (Indian) troops were killed when they tried to leave Kabul in January 1842. After several months as a captive, Pottinger was finally freed by Sir George Pollock's army. He then returned to India.
Later Life and Legacy
Eldred Pottinger died on November 15, 1843, in Hong Kong. He was visiting his uncle, Henry Pottinger, who was the first Governor of Hong Kong. There is a special monument, called a cenotaph, in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mumbai that remembers him.
The "Hero of Herat"
After his death, British historians often wrote about Eldred Pottinger's role in the siege of Herat. They called him a genius at defending cities under attack and gave him the nickname "Hero of Herat." This was part of a larger effort to show how powerful the British military was. It also helped to secure British influence in the Middle East and Asia.
See also
- Siege of Herat (1837–1838)
Images for kids
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Portrait by Colesworthey Grant
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The cenotaph in Mumbai
