The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-22 00:00:00

2113 NEW MILIIBER OF TSB COUNCIL OF

Colonel, or, u we mut noweall General' Henry
Marion Durand, C. 8., la an officer of the Bengal Engineer",
and one of the most distinguished of that distinguished
corp.. Ills Indian service dates from the 22nd of May,
1830, and on the 19th of Jane in that year he wan placed
under the superintending engineer of the North Wee•em
Provinces. and attached to the Great Trigonometrical
Survey. Previous to his departure from England he had
been reported as showing decided indication of mathematical
genius, and we. one of two cadets who alone hod displayed
seal and aptitude in the prosecution of special studies at
Greenwich. In January, 1832, he was appointed
assistant to Major Colvin, and In June, 1834, as-
'Want engineer to the Feruse Shah Canal. On
the 19th of June, 1837, he was minuted with
the duty of reporting on the drainage of the Nolte( Ohne
Jheel, and in July of next year wee mentioned as qualified
for the important post of Deputy Surveyor-General of India.
Shah Shuja's campaign wee then being planned and carried
out, and on the 2 let of September, 1838, Lieut. Durand was ap-
pointed surveyor with the army of the Indus. At the storm
and capture of Ghazni he greatly distinguished himself,
having headed the explosion party arid fired the train. Sir
J. Keane, in his despatch of the 23rd July, 1839, write",
"Captain Thomson reports having been most ably se-
raided by Captain Peat and Lieutenants Durand and BPLeod
in the daring and dangerous enterprise of laying down pow-
der In the faro of the enemy, and the strong fire kept
up upon them reflects the highest credit on their gill and
cool courage; and his Excellency begs Captain Thomson,
and the officers named, will accept his cordial thanks." In
September, 1839, Lieutenant Durand was placed at the die-
per' of the envoy with Shah Shnja, but in November he
rejoined Captain Thomson es surveyor of the army of the
Indus, end greatly assisted him in preparing maps of the
countries the army had traversed. His piper on the engi-
neering equipments of the Affghan campaign, end his plan
of the fort of Ali Maejid, were also highly approved. On
the 14th of October, 1810, he was appointed to the charge of
the
inni canals In Rnhilcund, a duty which be gave up In the
beg ng of 1841, and in February of that year he returned
to Europe on furlough, but returned to Calcutta on the 28th
of February, 1842.
Oa his return to India Captain Durand was to enter on a
new and still more distinguished career, end to embark In a
' new line of duties. Hitherto his profession as an engin- w
officer had engaged him • he was now to become even better
known in the civil and Politics' department. On the let of
March, 1842, he was appointed private riveter,' to Lord
nueehenmh. the remae-etteral, and on the 13di of July,
in the arm year, he became secretary to the Financial Com-
mittee at Calcutta. Next year we find him present at the
=of Illsharejpore. On the 21st of June, 1844, he was '
private secretary to Mr. Bird, acting governor-
general ; and in September of the same year he wee
transferred se Commbisioner to the Terrell in provinces. He
was engaged in the second campaign against the Sikhs in
1849, and has received medals for the battles of Claillian-
wage and °Wang, as well as the bronze star for Maharsjpore.
At the commencement of the reel It be was acting as trident
at Indere in the room of Sir R. Hamilton ; and on the 22nd
of May, 1868, was appointed to collect intormation se to the
eteoriranisation of the Indian army, for which purpose he
wee further deputed to England on the 20th of September
lest.—Bootereard

• On retirement, an officer takes rank In the grade next
above his own.