Papers of Sir John Malcolm (1769-1833)

Papers of Sir John Malcolm chiefly relating to his career as an officer of the East India Company in India and on diplomatic missions to Persia [Iran]. Volumes IOR/H/733 and 736 relate to both central India and Persia; volume IOR/H/734 relates solely to India; volume IOR/H/737 relates solely to Persia. Volume IOR/H/735 relates mainly to his brief political career in England 1831-32 following his resignation as Governor of Bombay at the end of 1830 with some mention of Indian affairs and only brief mention of Persian affairs. The contents of IOR/H/733 is are partially covered by an index; IOR/H/734, 736 and 737 in entirety are covered by an index; IOR/H/735 does not contain an index. This series comprises papers and correspondence created within an official capacity context, although some personal matters are referred to such as his health and personal plans, and a few letters to members of his family are included. A significant proportion of the letters in the volumes are originals, but the volumes also include copy letters and a small number of copy and translated Persian letters.

The series comprises five volumes as follows:. IOR/H/733: Papers of Sir John Malcolm relating to Persia and Central India, 1808-1819. IOR/H/734: Papers of Sir John Malcolm relating to his term as Governor of Bombay, 1827-1830. IOR/H/735: Papers of Sir John Malcolm chiefly relating to his term as MP for Launceston, Indian affairs, patronage and personal matters, 1831-1832. IOR/H/736: Papers of Sir John Malcolm relating to India and Persia, 1796-1832. IOR/H/737: Papers of Sir John Malcolm relating to his diplomatic missions in Persia and to the country and history of Persia, 1799-1812.

Unrestricted

This description was modified in 2019 for the British Library-Qatar Foundation Partnership project. For the original description, see Samuel Charles Hill, Catalogue of the Home Miscellaneous Series of the India Office Records (London: HMSO, for the India Office, 1927).

For a biography of Sir John Malcolm see: The Life and Correspondence of Major-General Sir John Malcolm, GCB, Late Envoy to Persia and Governor of Bombay; From Unpublished Letters and Journals, by John William Kaye, in two volumes (London, Smith Elder, and Co; and Bombay, Smith Taylor, and Co, 1856).