Military Commission 1864 of Henry Macdonald. Lieutenant 19th Bengal Infantry

The printed commission document with manuscript insertions in recognition of Macdonald’s status in the Army: previously his commssion had only been valid in India. This refelcts the changes in Army organization folllowing the assumprtion of full powers by the British Crown after the end of the East India Company in 1858. It bears the usual blind stamped paper seals and duty stamps and is signed George [Field Marshal H R H Prince George, Duke of Cambridge, Commander in Chief] and de Grey Ripon  [Earl de Grey Ripon, Under Secretary of state for India, later 1st Marquess and Vicderoy of India]. Sound condition with the usual three vertical folds.  Henry Macdonald of Sandside in Caithness, served in the Mutiny (awarded the medal with two clasps). He was a surviving officer of the former 19th Bengal Native Infantry which mutinied at Berhampore. In 1859 he was serving as Adjutant at Dehra Doon. He was hacked to death in 1873 by Mohmand Afridis while serving as commandant of Fort Michnee and was buried at Peshawar.     sep4/1