A History of the Mahrattas v2.c46.39

v2.c46.39

¹ [Mr., i.e. Colonel, J. P. Boyd was an American, who was first engaged by the Nizām at the instance of the British Government, as a counterpoise to the influence of the Frenchman Raymond. He commanded a corps of 1,800, which took part in the battle of Kharda in 1795. In 1796, when Raymond was at the height of his power and was supposed to be about to attack the British Resident's camp, Boyd and another adventurer, Finglass, paraded their troops and declared for the Company. A few months later disputes arose, and Boyd left the Nizām's service, taking his troops with him. He then entered the Pēshwā's service on a salary of Rs. 3,000 a month, and in 1796 took part in the operations which resulted in the enthronement as Pēshwā of Bājīrāo II. In 1797 he was in command of the Pēshwā's regular brigade, but disappears from history after the disturbances which took place that year in Poona. (Compton, *Military Adventurers*, &c., pp. 340-1.)]