3-043-719 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Colonel Sykes, M.P., 1872. Engraving from a photograph by Caldesi. 'William Henry Sykes, M.P. for Aberdeen,...was born in 1790, and entered the Bombay army in 1804. He served under Lord Lake at the first siege of Bhurtpoor, in 1805, and commanded a native regiment at the battles of Kirkee and Poona, in 1817-18, besides taking part in other military operations. Having retired from the East India Company's service in 1837, with the rank of Colonel, he was elected one of the home directors of that body in 1840, and continued as such until the abolition of the Court of Directors, in 1859, having been deputy chairman since 1856, and annually elected chairman of the shareholders since 1858. Colonel Sykes was Lord Rector of Marischal College and the University of Aberdeen in 1854, and was chairman of the Society of Arts in 1856; in 1858 he was elected president of the Royal Asiatic Society, and of the Statistical Society of London in 1863. He was first elected M.P. for Aberdeen in April, 1857, and was unopposed in all the subsequent elections. As a legislator he was chiefly known for his advocacy of the claims of Indian officers. He was the author of several works and statistical papers on India and China'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.