Hyder Khan of Ghazni in 1839-42, Edmund Walker, 1848

Hyder khan, the governor of ghuznee this lithograph was taken from plate 19 of 'afghaunistan' by lieutenant james rattray. When the british took ghazni in july 1839, one of the most important consequences was the capture of its governor, ghulam haider khan, the fourth son of dost mohammed. Fearing for his life, ghulam tried to escape from the city, but was intercepted and eventually received and pardoned by the incumbent emir, shah shuja. When dost mohammed regained his position in afghanistan, ghulam became prime minister of kabul, succeeding his brother akbar. In so doing, ghulam became dost mohammed's most likely successor and thus upset his two older brothers who felt they had been sidelined. According to rattray, he was a large, good-looking and very stout young man who resembled his father. This portrait is a copy of a picture owned by dowager lady keane, rather than a study from life. Date: 1848.