image details
Captain Colin Mackenzie, Madras Army, 1842 (c).
Oil on canvas by James Sant, 1842 (c)
As Assistant Political Agent at Peshawar, Lieutenant Mackenzie was sent to Kabul in 1840, during the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). He led the defence of Kabul fort against the Afghans and the subsequent night fight to escape from it, leading Sale's retreating force to Gandamak. He returned to Kabul and was present at the conference between the Afghan Chief, Akbar Khan, and the British envoy, Sir William Macnaghten, where the latter was murdered. Mackenzie survived the ill-fated retreat to Jalalabad, only to be chosen as a hostage by Akbar Khan. He was freed by a force commanded by Sir George Pollock before Akbar Khan could sell him into slavery. Deeply religious, he was respected by the Afghans, who called him 'the English Mullah'. Like many of his British contemporaries in India, Mackenzie seems to have chosen to wear loose oriental clothes for comfort, when off-duty.
Oil on canvas by James Sant, 1842 (c)
As Assistant Political Agent at Peshawar, Lieutenant Mackenzie was sent to Kabul in 1840, during the 1st Afghan War (1838-1842). He led the defence of Kabul fort against the Afghans and the subsequent night fight to escape from it, leading Sale's retreating force to Gandamak. He returned to Kabul and was present at the conference between the Afghan Chief, Akbar Khan, and the British envoy, Sir William Macnaghten, where the latter was murdered. Mackenzie survived the ill-fated retreat to Jalalabad, only to be chosen as a hostage by Akbar Khan. He was freed by a force commanded by Sir George Pollock before Akbar Khan could sell him into slavery. Deeply religious, he was respected by the Afghans, who called him 'the English Mullah'. Like many of his British contemporaries in India, Mackenzie seems to have chosen to wear loose oriental clothes for comfort, when off-duty.
Negative No.
745
Accession No.
NAM. 1961-10-61-1
