March

1814-1888

General in the Sikh Army and Governor of Dera Ghazi Khan

The Van Cortlandts have descended from one of the noblest families in Holland whose ancestors migrated to America. Henry Charles was born in Meerut and educated in England. Arriving in India, he entered the services of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the Muslim Battalion on a salary of 250 Rupees per month in 1832. Serving in several campaigns and was present at the Battle of Jamrud where he witnessed the death of General Hari Singh Nalwa. By 1841, during the reign of Maharaja Sher Singh he took part in the siege of the Lahore fort and assisted the British campaign during the Afghan wars in the Peshawar valley. He was absent during the assassination of Maharaja Sher Singh and during the outbreak of the first Anglo-Sikh war of 1845. After the termination of the Sikh wars he returned to Lahore and was employed by the British army as a political agent. Known to be a favourite amongst the prominent Sikh chiefs at court, he was duly promoted to the rank of general and married an Anglo-Indian lady Susanna Turner in Karnal. His services were so highly appreciated by the British Government that he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and lived out his retirement in London where he spent most of his remaining life reminiscing about his years at the opulent Sikh court. General van Cortlandt was one of the few officers to be decorated at the Court of Lahore for his wisdom and loyal services firstly by Raja Lal Singh, Prime Minister of the Sikh Kingdom and later by Maharaja Duleep Singh. He died from pneumonia aged 73 in London.