Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...
Sir Lewis Pelly (14 November 1825 – 22 April 1892) was a
British East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
officer, and then an imperial army and political officer. At the end of his life, he was a
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
Member of Parliament for
Hackney North, from 1885 to 1892.
Early years
He was the son of
John Hinde Pelly of Hyde House, Gloucestershire, and his wife Elizabeth Lewis. He was educated at
Rugby School.
Sir John Henry Pelly,
Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company and
Governor of the Bank of England, was his uncle.
First period in India
Pelly entered the East India Company service in 1840.
In 1841 he was commissioned in the
Bombay Army as an ensign.
He served in
Sind before its annexation. Appointed to the regimental staff in 1842, he was promoted to lieutenant in 1843.
Moved to a political role in the system of
British indirect rule, Pelly in 1851–2 was posted to
Baroda State
Baroda State was a kingdom within the Maratha Confederacy and later a princely state in present-day Gujarat. It was ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until its accession to the newly formed Dominion of India. With th ...
. There he had a prosecuting role in
James Outram's corruption enquiry, assistant reader at the court of the
Gaekwar.
He then transferred to the civil service of
Sind Division until 1856, being promoted to captain in 1855.
In the
Anglo-Persian War
The Anglo-Persian War, also known as the Anglo-Iranian War (), was a war fought between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and Qajar Iran, Iran, which was ruled by the Qajar dynasty. The war had the British oppose a ...
of 1856–7, Pelly was
aide-de-camp to
General John Jacob, and commanded a troop of cavalry. He was secretary to Sir James Outram during the occupation of
Bushire and
Kharg Island.
In April 1858 he was in London, where he had his book on Jacob published, and met
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer (27 April 1820 – 8 December 1903) was an English polymath active as a philosopher, psychologist, biologist, sociologist, and anthropologist. Spencer originated the expression "survival of the fittest", which he coined in '' ...
at
John Chapman's house, 142
The Strand.
Pelly served as
brigade major in the Frontier Force of the
Scinde Irregular Horse
The Scinde Horse is an armoured regiment in the Indian Army Armoured Corps, Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment, known before independence as the 14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse was a regular cavalry regiment of the Bombay Arm ...
, commanded by Jacob, in 1858.
He was made a judge in
Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
in 1859.
In Persia
Pelly was secretary of the British legation in
Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
at the court of
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
from 1859 to 1860: taking up the post, he rode to Tehran from
Trebizond. He was then appointed
chargé d'affaires
A (), plural ''chargés d'affaires'', often shortened to ''chargé'' (French) and sometimes in colloquial English to ''charge-D'', is a diplomat who serves as an embassy's chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador. The term is Frenc ...
there.
Henry Rawlinson left the legation during this period, replaced as its head by Charles Alison.
Alison sent Pelly on a special mission to
Herat
Herāt (; Dari/Pashto: هرات) is an oasis city and the third-largest city in Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Se ...
, in line with Rawlinson's idea that a British agent there would counter Russian influence. In the aftermath of the
Treaty of Paris that had ended the Anglo-Persian conflict, the ruler there was
Ahmed Khan (Sultan Jan). Pelly departed to visit Sultan Jan in Herat, with a small party and six horses, in September 1860.
From Herat, he travelled on to
Farah,
Kandahar and
Qalati Ghilji.
Roving political agent
In 1860 Pelly had travelled overland on a horse, in uniform, from Tehran most of the way to
Calcutta
Kolkata, also known as Calcutta (List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern ba ...
, a feat that impressed
Sir Bartle Frere.
Like Rawlinson, Frere was a leading advocate of the 1860s of a
Forward Policy for British India; and in particular of a British Agent at Herat and other strategic hotspots. Frere took Pelly under his wing, and became a patron of his career.
In 1861 Pelly went to the
Comoros Islands, where he was shipwrecked on Johanna (
Anjouan);
and to
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique, is a country located in Southeast Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west, and Eswatini and South Afr ...
. In May 1861, he was part of the expedition which placed
Bahrain
Bahrain, officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. Situated on the Persian Gulf, it comprises a small archipelago of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island, which mak ...
under British tutelage, even if theoretically it was in the sphere of influence of Persia.
Pelly was then appointed political agent and consul at
Zanzibar
Zanzibar is a Tanzanian archipelago off the coast of East Africa. It is located in the Indian Ocean, and consists of many small Island, islands and two large ones: Unguja (the main island, referred to informally as Zanzibar) and Pemba Island. ...
. A deal brokered by
Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning separated the
Sultanate of Zanzibar from the
Sultanate of Oman came into effect in April 1861. It involved an annual subsidy from Zanzibar to Oman, the Canning Award agreed at the level of 40,000
Maria Theresa thalers. The sum represented about 20% of Zanzibar's revenue from the
Indian Ocean slave trade. In the years that followed, Imam
Azzan bin Qais took power in Oman from
Thuwaini bin Said, and
Majid bin Said of Zanzibar was reluctant to make the payments. Pelly took the side of Majid bin Said in the dispute.
From Zanzibar, Pelly visited and reported on the
Seychelle Islands in 1862. Next, he was transferred back to
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
as
political resident (1862 to 1872). On Frere's advice, he sought out
William Mackinnon. Frere and Mackinnon had been discussing possible new
British India Steam Navigation Company shipping lines from Bombay, to the
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a sea inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. Its connection to the ocean is in the south, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden. To its north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and th ...
and Zanzibar. Mackinnon and Pelly then corresponded. With
William Mansfield and
Matthew Sausse, Pelly was in the small group of well-placed British imperial staff who took up advantageous offers of British India Steam Navigation stock from Mackinnon in the 1860s.
The
Persian Gulf Telegraph Cable was planned and laid in the years leading up to 1864. Pelly was involved in surveys, of the north end of the Gulf, and on the proposed route.
The plan approved in 1862, by Colonel Patrick Stewart, would connect
Fao
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; . (FAO) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition ...
by the
Shatt al Arab to Karachi. Pelly caused some confusion by a proposal for radical change in British arrangements, organised around a centre on the
Musandam Peninsula.
Pelly officially visited
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of the Riyadh Province and the centre of the Riyadh Governorate. Located on the eastern bank of Wadi Hanifa, the current form of the metropolis largely emerged in th ...
in 1865 to meet with the ruler of the
Second Saudi State,
Faisal bin Turki. At this point, he counted as the chief political resident in the Persian Gulf area, and was keen to promote trade. He made an inland journey to the
Nejd, and an associated map. On the return sea journey from Bushire, heading for
Muscat on the SS ''Berenice'', captain Edwin Dawes, the vessel caught fire, and the passengers and crew made for
Sheikh Shoeyb Island in lifeboats. Pelly published an account of his journey.
The
Qatari–Bahraini War broke out in 1867. When he was in a position to make a show of strength, in autumn 1868 Pelly sailed to Bahrain with the sloops
HMS ''Daphne'' and
HMS ''Nymphe'', and the gunboats HMS ''Clyde'' and HMS ''Hugh Rose''. The outcome by 6 September 1868 was that
Muhammad bin Khalifa Al Khalifa was deposed, and his brother Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa became the ruler of Bahrain. On 12 September, Pelly signed a treaty with
Mohammed bin Thani which recognised the independence of
Qatar
Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country in West Asia. It occupies the Geography of Qatar, Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East; it shares Qatar–Saudi Arabia border, its sole land b ...
. In October he went to Bombay in
HMS ''Vigilant''.
Pelly was promoted to major in 1861, lieutenant colonel in 1866, and colonel in 1871.
Anti-slavery mission
In 1872–1873, Pelly accompanied Sir Bartle Frere in the anti-slavery mission to the east coast of Africa. Others on the expedition included
George Percy Badger as Arabic interpreter, and
Kazi Shahabudi from
Kutch, representing Indian traders with East Africa.
The investigation, on behalf of the
Anti-Slavery Society, had originally been intended by Frere to be led by Pelly, without Frere's participation.
Frere in Muscat and Zanzibar was unable to negotiate an end to the Zanzibar slave trade, but
John Kirk, consul in Zanzibar, did so shortly thereafter.
Second period in India
On 21 June 1873, Pelly was appointed agent to the governor general of
Rajputana
Rājputana (), meaning Land of the Rajputs, was a region in the Indian subcontinent that included mainly the entire present-day States of India, Indian state of Rajasthan, parts of the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, and adjo ...
, remaining in this post until 1878.
This was the period of the
Baroda Crisis. The embattled
Robert Phayre, resident in Baroda, was the apparent victim of an attempted poisoning in November 1874, on the orders of its ruler
Malhar Rao Gaekwad; but was unwilling to resign. He was replaced by Pelly later that month. Pelly had Malhar Rao arrested in January 1875, and tried by a commission. The outcome was inconclusive, but Malhar Rao was deposed.
Pelly was knighted (K.C.B.) in 1877.
Lord Lytton arrived in India in 1876, as incoming viceroy, and it was proposed to send Pelly to
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...
as envoy; but this offer was rejected by the
Emir of Afghanistan. Lytton had Pelly write to the emir, who found reasons against the proposed "Pelly mission", which would have been an unpopular concession. In particular, he argued that
Konstantin Petrovich von Kaufmann for Russia could also demand a mission. In January 1877 Pelly met the ''
sadr-i a'zam'' Sayyid Nur Muhammad Shah representing the emir,
Sher Ali Khan, in
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...
. He stated that the admission of British agents to Afghanistan was a prerequisite for talks. The discussions led nowhere, and Pelly, who had
plenipotentiary
A ''plenipotentiary'' (from the Latin ''plenus'' "full" and ''potens'' "powerful") is a diplomat who has full powers—authorization to sign a treaty or convention on behalf of a sovereign. When used as a noun more generally, the word can als ...
powers, was told to withdraw from them in March.
Nur Muhammad was by then seriously ill, and he died on 26 March. The
Second Anglo-Afghan War began the following year.
Later life

In 1878 Pelly returned to the United Kingdom.
In 1885, by now a lieutenant general, he was elected as
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
Member of Parliament for the newly created
North Hackney constituency.
In 1886 he attended the Annual General Meeting of the
National Society for Women's Suffrage.
Pelly became a director of the
Imperial British East Africa Company. On 8 March 1892
J. G. Swift MacNeill objected in Parliament to votes made by Pelly,
William Burdett-Coutts and
John Henry Puleston, directors and shareholders in the Imperial British East Africa Company, on a grant for a survey to be made from the East African coast to Lake Victoria Nyanza of a railway route. MacNeill's motion was successful, and the "distinction of degree" of self-interest involved in this "Mombasa railway" instance of disallowal of votes persisted in parliamentary practice.
Pelly died in
Falmouth on 22 April 1892, and is buried adjacent to
Rutherford Alcock at
Merstham in Surrey.
Honours
*
C. S. I., 1867
*
K. C. S. I., 1874
Family
In 1878 Pelly married Amy Henrietta Lowder, who was born in 1847 at
Calne in
Wiltshire
Wiltshire (; abbreviated to Wilts) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It borders Gloucestershire to the north, Oxfordshire to the north-east, Berkshire to the east, Hampshire to the south-east, Dorset to the south, and Somerset to ...
to the Rev. John Samuel Lowder.
Her father was an Anglican chaplain in
Shanghai
Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
, and died by drowning in 1849. Her mother Lucy Windsor then in 1862 married
Rutherford Alcock as his second wife. She died on 31 May 1924, in
Eccleston Street, London.
In 1882, the couple were living at 1,
Eaton Square,
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. They had no children.
Publications
*''Our North West Frontier'' (1858), pamphlet
*''The Views and Opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob K.C.B.'' (1858)
*''Report on a Journey to Riyadh in Central Arabia, 1865'', 1866 text reprinted with an introduction by
Robin Leonard Bidwell
*''The Miracle Play of Hasan and Husain'' (1879, 2 vols.), English translation from the Persian of 37
ta'zieh dramas, revised and with notes by
Arthur Naylor Wollaston. Pelly's translations followed those by
Aleksander Chodźko, into French.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelly, Sir Lewis
1825 births
1892 deaths
People educated at Rugby School
British East India Company Army officers
Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Hackney Members of Parliament
Lewis
UK MPs 1885–1886
UK MPs 1886–1892
Knights Commander of the Order of the Star of India
British military personnel of the Anglo-Persian War
British Indian Army generals
Burials in Surrey