Part I: A Short Biography of George Bogle (1746-1781)

George Bogle (1746-1781) was the Scottish adventurer and diplomat who served the East India Company (EIC) from 1770 until his untimely death in 1781. He was the first British political officer to establish a diplomatic relationship with Tibet and Bhutan. Bogle visited Bhutan in 1774, becoming the first British political officer to visit the country. George Bogle was born on the 26^th of November 1746 to George Bogle of Daldowie, Scotland. He was the youngest son of the seven surviving children. After completing nursery at Glasgow, Bogle studied logic and other branches of education at Edinburgh University. He also did attend Mr Kinross’s school at Enfield. In 1764, Bogle travelled to southern France, accompanying his sick friend who died in 1765. After travelling for six months in France, Bogle returned to London. Then, he worked as a clerk at his eldest brother Robert’s firm Bogle and Scott. In the next four years, Bogle acquired much experience in the business.

In 1769, Bogle obtained an appointment in the EIC service through his friends. At the age of 23, he embarked on his new journey to India on the 25^th of January 1770. On 19^th August 1770, George Bogle arrived at Calcutta at the great height of the Bengal famine. The misery he witnessed left a deep impression on him and he described the great famine to his father in his letter which reads: “Due to the famine, the crops failed to the extent never known in the memory of man.” The devastating famine is said to have wept out one-third of the population. Bogle’s initial appointment at the EIC was assistant in the different offices. Bogle got an early insight into the company’s possession and foreign relations, at the same time he diligently began to study Persian.

In February 1772, when Warren Hastings[1] succeeded as a new Governor of Bengal, Bogle received the post of assistant secretary to the board of revenue. While in his position, Bogle accompanied the governor to different provinces and got close acquainted. Among a few, George Bogle won the distinction under the eyes of governor Warren Hasting. In the following year, Bogle was appointed as the registrar, at the court of appeals for natives, and soon afterwards secretary to the select committee. After having won the high favour of Warren Hasting through his hard work and loyalty, George Bogle was appointed as Envoy to the 6^th Teshu Lama (Panchen Lama) Palden Yeshe (1738-1780) of Tibet on the 13^th of May 1774.

On his return from Tibet, Warren Hasting was satisfied and pleased with Bogle on his successful and meaningful conduct of the mission. To further foster the relationship with Panchen Lama and enhance trade with Tibet, Warren Hasting appointed Bogle to proceed again to Bhutan and Tibet in 1779. In the course of summer, news reached Bogle that Panchen Lama has left for Peking and the planned mission was consequently postponed. In 1779, Bogle was appointed as the collector of Rangpur. During his stay at Rangpur, Bogle received and exchanged numerous letters with Warren Hastings and his close friends. Bogle wrote the last letter addressed to his father on the 28^th of October 1780. In 1781, the EIC dissolved the provincial councils and formed the revenue committee at Calcutta to take all collections in the provinces. George Bogle was appointed as one of the committee members.

After receiving the letter from Warren Hasting on 16^th January 1781, informing of his new appointment, Bogle proceeded to Calcutta without a delay. On reaching Calcutta, George Bogle was stuck by a fatal illness and met an untimely death at the early age of 34 on the 3^rd of April, 1781. While it is unclear what of actual illness was, few sources show that cholera claimed his life. 

Bibliography

Markham, R. (1876). Narratives of the Mission of George Bogle to Tibet, and the Journey of Thomas Manning to Lhasa. London: Trubner and Company. Retrieved 15^th August 2022 from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Z4WaPcW0JdUC&oi=fnd&pg=IA2&dq=Narrative+of+George+Bogle+mission+to+Tibet+and+Thomas+Manning+to+Lhasa&ots=o30pa1kiPn&sig=6V8QxMCboTA3ZZvIWGp8dV5e8Rw.

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[1] Warren Hastings (1732-1818) was the former Governor General of the East India Company in Bengal from 1772-1785.