Sir John MacDonald Kinneir was born in Carndel, Linlithgow on February 3, 1782. His father was John MacDonald and worked as a comptroller of customs at Borrowstounness which is in Scotland. A comptroller is a management position responsible for overseeing the quality of accounting and financial reporting. His mother was Cecilia Maria Kinneir. John MacDonald Kinneir was a lieutenant-colonel in the army, a traveler, and a diplomat. On September 21, 1804, he was appointed to the Madras infantry and eventually became the captain of this regiment which led to the ranking of lieutenant-colonel.

During his time assisting Sir John Malcolm with his mission in Persia, Kinneir took many trips in Persia and this is where he gets a large amount of the content for his book, Travels in Asia Minor. In 1810 the mission was broken up and he was ordered to return to his regiment. After returning to Stockholm, Kinneir joined Colonel Neil Campbell on a journey to reach India through Russia and Persia, but the retreat of the French forces from Moscow created a more southern route. These men began their journey in Poland and continued from Austria and Hungry to Constantinople. They began two separate journeys through Asia Minor with Constantinople being the starting point for both. One Journey beginning at Constantinople and then continuing south through central Turkey going through places such as Eski Shehr, Angora, Caesarea, Latakia, and Cyprus. After reaching Cyprus, they continued their journey back towards Constantinople passing through places such as Caramania and Iconium until they reached Constantinople. The second trip went along the coast of the Black Sea passing through places such as Nicomedia, Costamboul, Samsoon, Tresibond. Then going south-east towards modern day Irag passing through Erzeroom, Betlis, Sert, Merdin, and Mosul, then exiting Asia Minor towards Bagdhad and Bussora. These are the two journeys in which Kinneir writes about in this book.

In 1824 Kinneir was appointed envoy for the East India Company and stayed in Persia as Persian and Russian tensions grew hostile about the treaty of Teheran. Kinneir during this time played a role in a number of military operations, but with the sole intention to bring peace to this area. Kinneir was able to convince both forces to sign a peace treaty at Turkmanchi on February 23, 1828. This treaty caused the British to loss territory in Persia, but was never blamed for his actions. Persians respected Kinneir and rewarded him with the Persian order of the Sun and Lion. In November of 1829, Kinneir was knighted and took on the name Sir John MacDonald Kinneir. Kinneir continued his career as an envoy in Persia until his death on June 11, 1830. (Biography written by Nathan Mraz, December 2013).

 

Sir John MacDonald Kinneir’s book, Journey Through Asia Minor, Armenia, and Koordistan in the Years 1813 and 1814, is available online through Google books. Click here to read.

 

Access Kinneir’s itinerary here.

 

To read more about Sir John MacDonald Kinneir, please read Nathan Mraz’s essay, which can be found here.