Fonds GCH - Papers of Alexander Hamilton and Graves Chamney Haughton

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 GCH

Title

Papers of Alexander Hamilton and Graves Chamney Haughton

Date(s)

  • 1765 - 1837 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 archival box

Context area

Name of creator

(1762-1824)

Biographical history

Alexander Hamilton (1762-1824) was one of the first Europeans to study Sanskrit. Hamilton joined the East India Company and arrived in India in 1783. He joined the Asiatic Society of Bengal founded by William Jones. Hamilton returned to Europe aroundread more

Name of creator

(1788-1849)

Biographical history

Graves Chamney Haughton (1788-1849) was educated in England before travelling to India in 1808 with the East India Company. He became proficient in Hindustani, studying at Fort William College. He returned to England in 1815 and in 1817 was appointedread more

Archival history

The Papers are identified as belonging to Alexander Hamilton and Graves Haughton. Presumably they came into the sole possession of Haughton after Hamilton's death in 1824. Haughton donated four of these volumes to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1837.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The General Meeting Minutes for 1 April 1837 record: "From Sir Graves Haughton: Four MS volmes of Documents prepared under the direction of Lord Cornwallis during his first administration in Bengal, with a view for the perpetual Settlement". These areread more

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Five handwritten leather bound volumes - four contain Reports on the Finances of Bengal and the fifth contains English notes/translation of the Shahnamah of Firdausi. Each bears the names A. Hamilton and G. Haughton; the four Finance books also bear theread more

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email.read more

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • English

Allied materials area

Related units of description

The Society also holds within its Collections: Fihrist-i Kutub-i Kitabkhanah-i Sarkar - A Catalogue of the Oriental MSS. in the College of Fort William, copied out in the year 1813, bearing the signature of Graves Haughton and presented to the Society byread more

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Description control area

Description identifier

gb891-gch

Archivist's note

These Papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist in 2018.