Anthony Pohlmann

Who is Anthony Pohlmann?

Anthony Pohlmann was a Hanoverian soldier who served in the armies of the British East India Company and Daulat Scindia. Pohlmann arrived in India as a sergeant in a Hanoverian regiment serving the East India Company in Madras. He deserted his regiment in 1792 or 1793 and took employment in the army of the Maratha prince, Daulat Scindia. He served under the French mercenary Benoît de Boigne, who promoted him to captain in 1794. By 1795 he was in command of a battalion of infantry, serving alongside the Anglo-Indian military adventurer, James Skinner. In early 1799, Pierre Cuillier-Perron – who superseded de Boigne as the overall commander of Scindia's troops – promoted Pohlmann to colonel and gave him command of Scindia's second brigade. At the Battle of Assaye in 1803, Pohlmann effectively commanded all the regular battalions in the Maratha army, after Scindia and the Rajah of Berar absented themselves before the battle. Some historians, however, claim that Pohlmann was not present at Assaye, but had been imprisoned for refusing to fight the British. He re-entered service with the East India Company as a lieutenant colonel in 1804.