# Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Robertson, George Scott

​ROBERTSON, Sir GEORGE SCOTT (1852–1916), Anglo-Indian administrator, was born in London 22 October 1852, the second son of Thomas James Robertson, a pawnbroker in Southwark, by his wife, Robina Corston, daughter of Robert Scott, of Kirkwall, Orkney. He was educated at Westminster Hospital medical school, and entered the Indian medical service in 1878. In the same year he proceeded to India, where he held various appointments as medical officer and served through the Afghan War of 1879–1880 with the Kabul field force.
In 1889 the government of India decided to create a political agency in Gilgit, a district lying within the political sphere of Kashmir, in order to counteract Russian activities. The Russians were about to secure a concession from the state of Hunza, situated sixty miles north of Gilgit, and a Russian cantonment was in process of establishment there, which would have been a real menace to Kashmir and the Indian Empire. Colonel Algernon Durand was appointed British agent in Gilgit, and he chose Robertson, who thus passed into the employment of the Indian foreign department, as his surgeon. A visit with Durand to Chitral led Robertson to interest himself in the Kafirs, the aboriginal inhabitants of that country. He travelled for a year in Kafiristan (1890–1891) and gained the confidence of these primitive people in a marked degree.
On returning to his post Robertson found the political situation in and around Gilgit more satisfactory. Russian interference had been definitely stopped, and the people had accepted the rule of the British agent as representing the government of Kashmir. Moreover, the mehtar, or ruler, of Chitral had a British officer at his court as representative of the government of India, and was pledged to act by his advice in foreign affairs. Durand therefore went home on leave in 1893, and on his recommendation Robertson succeeded him in 1894 as British agent in Gilgit.
The death of the old ruler of Chitral in 1892 had been followed by an orgy of assassination, as is usual in many Oriental countries on a demise of the crown. But when Robertson assumed charge of Gilgit the claimant to Chitral who was most favoured by Simla had, after the usual struggles, been accepted as mehtar by the people. Peace was rudely broken, however, in January 1895 when the mehtar was murdered by his younger brother in Chitral itself. Had this been the murderer's irresponsible act the matter might have been peacefully settled, but more powerful influences were concerned. Umra Khan, a Pathan chief, was in control of Dir and Swat, territories which lie between Chitral and Peshawar. His aim was to extend his power over Chitral to the Oxus. The mehtar's murder afforded him a convenient excuse for interference by urging the claims of Sher Afzal (the dead mehtar's uncle) to the vacant throne. His action was approved and controlled by the Ameer of Kabul who had long coveted Chitral.
Robertson, therefore, proceeded to Chitral with an escort. At the same time Umra Khan entered that country from the south with Sher Afzal and a considerable force. Robertson handled the situation with firmness. He recognized as ruler of Chitral neither the late mehtar's murderer nor Sher Afzal, whose claims were supported by Umra Khan's invading force. The youngest legitimate male survivor of the ruling family was proclaimed mehtar, whereupon war was at once ​declared. After a brisk engagement Robertson's small force was driven into Chitral fort and closely besieged. This building was badly situated for defence, inconvenient for the numbers which it now contained (543 men, of whom 137 were non-combatants), and, owing to local hostility, inadequately provisioned. The water-supply was commanded by the enemy and the defenders were too weak to break the ring surrounding them. Yet for six weeks, from 4 March to 20 April, Robertson held out. Rejecting the enemy's treacherous offers of peace and repulsing their determined efforts on the crazy fort, he kept the flag flying until relieved by the simultaneous advance of a force from Gilgit under Colonel James Kelly and of an army from India under Sir Robert Cunliffe Low [q.v.].
The credit for this notable achievement must be shared by Robertson with the determined men whom he had the honour to command. He could not have succeeded in defying such formidable opposition without the unflinching loyalty and devotion of his officers and men. His military adviser, Colin Powys Campbell, of the Central India Horse, directed operations, though wounded. (Sir) Charles Townshend, afterwards famous for the defence of Kut, Henry Kellett Harley, of the 14th Sikhs, and Bertrand Gurdon, the political officer, made up for their weakness in numbers by fertility in resource and bravery in action. The Rosebery ministry decided on the evacuation of Chitral, but went out of office before evacuation had taken place, and Lord Salisbury's ministry reversed the decision of their liberal predecessors.
Robertson was created K.C.S.I. for his services in 1895, but to the surprise of the Indian public he suddenly abandoned his career, retiring from the Indian service in 1899 and returning to England. He unsuccessfully contested Stirlingshire in the liberal interest in 1900, but was elected M.P. for Central Bradford in 1906. Robertson was the author of two books; The Kafirs of the Hindu Kush (1896), and Chitral: the story of a Minor Siege (1898). He died in London 1 January 1916.
Robertson married twice: first, in 1882 Catherine Edith (died 1886), daughter of Colonel Alexander John Edwin Birch, by whom he had one daughter; secondly, in 1894 Mary Gertrude (Mrs. Bird), daughter of Samuel Laurence [q.v.], the portrait-painter.
[Private information; personal knowledge.]
C. A. S.