Page 161 - Arabian Studies (V)

The Political Residents of Aden: Biographical Notes 151
winning successes against great odds in command of irregular
horsemen. He was soon recognised as one of the most promising
officers in the Army and this was shown by his appointment as
Military Secretary to the Governor of Bombay in 1861. Much of his
time in Aden was taken up in negotiations with the Emperor
Theodore of Abyssinia, trying to persuade him to release his British
captives. He played an important part in Napier’s expedition to
Magdala. However he found time for a policy of vigorous develop­
ment and also for a campaign against the Fadhlis which he
launched on his own initiative. He went from Aden to become
Chief Commissioner of Scind and was believed destined for higher
posts when his health broke down. In 1876 he was appointed to the
Council of India and died in 1880. He had been knighted in 1868.
1867 (December) to 1870 (December)
RUSSELL, Major-General Sir Edward Lechmere
He was born in 1818, the son of a General. He was enrolled
for Trinity College, Cambridge in 1836 but did not take up resi­
dence. Instead in 1837 he joined the 12th Bombay Infantry, seeing
action in the Afghan War of 1839. In the Scind Campaigns of 1842-
3, he was present at the battles of Meanee and Haiderabad as
Adjutant of the Scind Irregular Horse. In 1856 he was appointed
Military Secretary to Lord Elphinstone, Governor of Bombay and
was closely concerned with the organisation of troops to quell the
Mutiny. He was appointed commander of the garrison in Aden and
acted as Resident while Merewether was in Abyssinia. When he
succeeded as Resident, he saw the opportunities created by the
opening of the Suez Canal and also the possible dangers of new
French and Italian activities in the Red Sea. He therefore kept
impressing on Bombay the need to improve the fortifications. He
was described as being particularly tactful and conciliatory with
tribal leaders. He was knighted during his period in Aden from
where he went on to command the Northern Division of the
Bombay Army from 1871 to 1876. He retired as a General in 1881
and died in January 1904.
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1870 (December) to 1872 (early) .
TREMENHEERE, Major-General Charles William
He was born in 1813, the son of a General in the Indian Army.
After education at Addiscombe, he was appointed to the Bombay
Engineers in 1829. He held various engineering posts in India until
January 1846 when he was sent to Aden as Assistant Executive
Engineer. After a year there he returned to India working in
Karachi and Bombay on dockyards, reclamation and fortification.
After working with the Indian Railways in 1855-6 he became