ATKINSON, James. Darlington, co. Durham 17.3.(or 9.3.?)1780 — London 7.8.1852.British Physician in India, Scholar of Persian and Urdū. Son of a woolcomber. Medical studies at Edinburgh and London, joined Indian Medical Service in 1805 as Assistant Surgeon and worked in Bengal. From 1812 Assistant to the Assay Master at Calcutta Mint, 1818 Deputy Assay Master under H. H. Wilson. After disagreement with the Governor General left India in 1829 and spent some years in England, but returned as Surgeon in 1833. From 1838 Superintending Surgeon of Indus army, participated in the Afghan war, returned to India in December 1840. Last years Superintending Surgeon of Cawnpore Division and (1845) member of Calcutta Medical Board. Retired 1847. Married 1815 Jane Bathie, four sons and one daughter.
Publications: Many editions in and translations from Persian (abridged Šāhnāme translation, 1830-32, Nizāmī’s Lailā and Majnūn, 1836), translations from Italian, own poems, etc.
– Antiquities of Dacca, with engravings by J Landseer from drawings by Sir C D’Oyly. 1816 (text by J.A.).
– Edited in Urdū: Ḥaidarī, Arāish-e Maḥfil. Calcutta 1818.
– The Expedition into Afghanistan: notes and sketches descriptive of the country, contained in a personal narrative during the campaign of 1839 & 1840. 20+428 p. L. 1842.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; S.L[ane]-P[oole], D.N.B. 5, 1885, 112; Wikipedia with portrait.
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