Francis Buchanan

History glossary

Also called: Buchanan-Hamilton · Topic: Colonial Economy: Land Revenue, Drain, Deindustrialisation · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 1 "Colonialism and the Countryside"

Meaning

Francis Buchanan, also called Buchanan-Hamilton, was a doctor in the Bengal Medical Service from 1794 to 1815. He was once surgeon to Governor-General Wellesley. For the Government of Bengal, he made detailed surveys of districts such as Dinajpur and Bhagalpur (Rajmahal). His journals are a key source for rural Bengal. However, the Company paid for his surveys and gave him his instructions, so his writing reflects the Company's interests.

Example

In his Dinajpur survey, Buchanan described the powerful jotedars, the rich peasants of North Bengal. While travelling, he carefully noted useful minerals such as iron ore, mica, granite and saltpetre. He judged every landscape by how "productive" it could be made, and he looked down on the way forest dwellers lived.

Don't confuse with

  • The Fifth Report (1813): a report made by a Select Committee for the British Parliament. Buchanan's surveys were field journals written for the Government of Bengal.

Related concepts

Read more