BAYLEY, Edward Clive. St.Petersburg 17.10.1821 — Keymer, Sussex 30.4.1884. Sir. British Civil Servant in India, interested in Antiquarian Studies. The only son of Edward Clive B. of Manchester and Margaret Fenton, educated at Haileybury. Served in India in 1842-54 and 1857-78. In 1842 he came to India, spent a few months in Calcutta, and then served in Meerut, Bulandshahr, and Rohtak. Because of poor health he had to remain long periods in the mountains, where he spent his time in study in the little known Himalayan area. After having been deputy Commissioner in the just conquered Punjab he was moved in 1849 to Gujarat. He is reputed to have skilfully promoted economy and trade of his area. In November 1849 the Under-Secretary of Foreign Department, Government of India (the Foreign Secretary was his friend —> H. M. Elliot). In November 1851 Deputy Commissioner of Kangra District in the Punjab. In 1854 health compelled him to return to England, where he began law studies. During the mutiny he returned to India in September 1857 and served Grant’s provisionary government as an Under Secretary in Allahabad, then in other offices. Draw himself the waiting room of Allahabad Court in Saracenic style. In April 1859 judge in Futtehgurh (Fatehgarh), then in Lucknow and Agra. In May 1861 acting Foreign secretary, and from March 1862 ten years Home Secretary. In 1872 acting member of Council of Lord Northbank, and in 1873 ordinary member of the Supreme Council. Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University 1869-74. K.C.S.I. 1877. Retired in 1878. Married 1850 Emily Metcalfe (1830–1911), seven daughters and one son.
He was an active member of the A.S.B. (served five times as its President), and made “considerable contributions to Indian history, numismatics, antiquities, and archaeology by his papers”. He valued Indians and had made good friends among them, which still was somewhat exceptional among the British.
Publications: Mainly wrote articles:
– 19 papers in JASB and ProcASB: “Sculptures found in Peshawar”, 21, 1852, 606-621, 18 pl.; “Note on two inscriptions at Khunniara in the Kangra district”, 23, 1854, 57-59; “Note on the Above [R. Mitra’s translation of a Bactrian Inscription from Wardak]”, 30, 1861, 347 & 347a-d; “Remarks on [Bactro-Buddhist Relics from Ráwal Pindi]”, 31, 1862, 184-190; “Memorandum on, and tentative reading of, the Súe Vihár Inscription from near Bháwalpúr”, 39, 1870, 65-70, 3 pl.; “Note on two Coins from Kausambi”, 42:1, 1873, 109-?, 191-?; “Note on two Muhammadan Coins”, 42:1, 1873, 311-?; “Note on a Hoard of 543 Sassanian Coins”, 43:1, 1874, 99-103; etc.
– “On the Genealogy of Modern Numerals”, JRAS 14, 1882, 335-376 & 15, 1883, 1-72; “Remarks on certain dates occurring on the coins of the Hindu kings of Kabul, expressed in the Gupta era and in Arabic (or quasi-arabic) numerals”, NC 3:2, 1882, 128-165, 291-294; other articles in NC.
– The local Muhammadan dynasties, Gujarat. c. 540 p. L. 1886.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; JRAS 16, 1884, Proc. iii-viii; several further sources in Br. Biogr. Arch.; L.S[tephen,] D.N.B. 3, 441f. (from JRAS); Wikipedia.
By his wife: The Golden Calm: An English Lady’s Life in Moghul Delhi: Reminiscences by Emily, Lady Clive Bayley, and by Her Father Sir Thomas Metcalfe. 1980.
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