Joseph Davey Cunningham

Joseph Davey Cunningham Biography

Joseph Davey Cunningham was a British writer who authored History of the Sikhs (1849) and he was also an authority in Punjab historiography. He is the son of famous Scottish poet Allan Cunningham and Jean Walker. He had three younger brothers. His younger brother Alexander Cunningham was an archeologist and British army engineer with the Bengal Engineer Group who founded and organised an organization, which later came to be known as Archaeological Survey of India. His next two younger brothers - Francis Cunningham was an Indian Army officer and Peter Cunningham, a British writer. His education was completed in London, and he moved to India in 1834. He died in Ambala in 1851, aged only 38.

Joseph Davey Cunningham was born in Lambeth, Scotland, in 9 June 1812. He was born into a family of intellectuals as the eldest son of famous Scottish poet Allan Cunningham and his wife Jean Walker. He had three younger brothers, who also became famous by their own means. Among the four siblings, he and Peter Cunningham followed their father’s footsteps and became famous writers. Joseph who moved to India in 1834 to be a part of British military spent his later years in Punjab, India.

During his younger years he showed deep interest in mathematics. But he reached India to serve for British army. He was first appointed as a staff member of the chief engineer of Bengal Presidency in 1834. In 1837, he was appointed assistant to Colonel Wade in Punjab. He served as a political agent in the state of Bahawalpur in 1845. He published History of the Sikhs in 1849. The book belonged to criticism genre which accounted Sir Henry Hardinge's management of the Sikh War. He was removed from his political appointment and sent back to regimental duty following displease from his seniors, and he passed away two years later. Its second edition was published by his brother Peter Cunningham after his death.

Published: N/A

Updated: July 13, 2018