James Low (East India Company officer) facts for kids

James Low (born in 1791, died in 1852) was a Scottish soldier who worked for the East India Company. He was well-known for his writings about the Thai language and the art and culture of the Malay Peninsula.

A Young Soldier's Start

James Low was born on April 4, 1791, in Kingskettle, Scotland. He went to Edinburgh College. In 1812, he joined the East India Company's Madras Army as a cadet. He sailed to Madras (now Chennai, India) in July 1812. For his first five years, James learned military skills. He also learned languages. The company wanted its officers to talk easily with the Indian soldiers they led.

In May 1817, James became an adjutant. This is a military officer who helps a commanding officer. In August of the same year, he was promoted to lieutenant.

Life in Penang

In January 1819, James Low moved to the East India Company's base in Penang. This is an island off the coast of Malaysia. He spent the rest of his career around the Straits of Malacca. In 1820, he took command of the Penang Local Corps. This was a local military group. He led them until the group was stopped in 1827.

Because James had studied math and philosophy, he loved learning languages. Being in Penang gave him a chance to learn Malay and Thai. Knowing Thai was very important. At the time, there was a conflict on the Malay Peninsula. The Burmese had fought against Siam (now Thailand). The British in Penang found themselves in the middle of a problem. This was between the Siamese Governor, known as the Raja of Ligor, and the Sultan of Kedah.

Important Missions

James Low led a special trip to Siam in 1824. This was the second such trip. The first was led by John Crawfurd. James's trip happened because Britain declared war on Burma. The goal was to get help from the Raja of Ligor. He controlled most of the Siamese lands on the west coast of the peninsula, including Kedah. Britain wanted his support for their plan to move up the Irrawaddy River.

James wrote about his trip in a report called Public Mission to His Highness the Rajah of Ligor. He also wrote a more detailed Journal of a Public Mission to the Rajah of Ligor. He even drew a map of Siam, Cambodia, and Laos. After his trip, he was sent to Tenasserim. There, he made more maps and drawings of the land.

In 1826, James was promoted to captain. He went on other trips to the Malay state of Perak. Soon after, he became the Superintendent of Lands in Province Wellesley in Penang. He held this job until 1840. Then, he became the Assistant Resident of Singapore. He finally retired in 1845. He returned to Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850 and passed away two years later.

A Pioneer in Thai Studies

Even though James Low's main job was to solve problems for the British, he also became a pioneer. A pioneer is someone who is among the first to do something. He was one of the first Westerners to study Thai language, literature, and art.

There were no good textbooks for learning Thai back then. So, James wrote A Grammar of the Thai or Siamese Language in 1828. He also published a collection of works called On the Government, the Literature, and the Mythology of the Siamese. This was published between 1831 and 1836. He wrote articles about Thai Buddhist art, Buddhist law, local histories, and different groups of people on the Malay Peninsula.

James also studied old writings and translated parts of Thai Buddhist scriptures. He translated a Malay history text from Kedah called Merong Mahawangsa. James was very good at observing and describing Thai art and culture in detail. This makes his mission journal an interesting source. It helps us learn about daily life and cultural practices in Siam during the 1800s.

James Low's Art Collection

James Low was very interested in Thai art. He collected many beautiful paintings and drawings from southern Thailand. Some of his collection of Thai drawings and paintings was bought by the British Museum in 1866. They are now kept in the British Library. Another part of his collection is at the Royal Asiatic Society in London.

Not much research has been done on James Low's art collection. However, it is a popular source of ideas for Thai designers today.