James Welsh

General James Welsh (12 March 1775 – 24 January 1861) was an English officer in the Madras Army of the East India Company. Biography Welsh, son of John Welsh, a Scotsman, was born on 12 March 1775. He obtained a commission as ensign in the army of the East India Company on 22 May 1790, and arrived at Madras on 23 January 1791. He joined the 3rd European Regiment at Vellore, and in November ascended the ghats with Colonel Floyd's detachment to serve in the grand army under Lord Cornwallis. Welsh was promoted to be lieutenant in the 24th Native Infantry on 1 November 1792, and took part with it in the siege of Pondicherry in July and August 1793. Transferred in 1795 to the 9th Native Infantry at Mandura, he served at the capture of Colombo and Ceylon in February 1796, and remained at Point-de-Galle as fort-adjutant until the end of 1798, when he was transferred in the same capacity to Machlipatnam. On 10 December 1799 Welsh was promoted to be captain, and appointed adjutant and quartermaster of the 3rd Native Infantry, which in 1803 formed part of a force under Major-general Arthur Wellesley to operate against the Marathas. He marched with it across India to Poona, and in June took part in the siege of Ahmadnagar. The town (pettah) was successfully stormed on 8 August and after a bombardment the fortress of Ahmadnagar surrendered on 12 August.