James Skinner (Adventurer)

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James Skinner CB (1778 – December 4, 1841), British military adventurer in India, son of Lieut.-Colonel Hercules Skinner, was born in India, his mother being a Rajput lady.

At the age of eighteen he entered the Mahratta army under de Boigne, where he soon showed military talents; and he remained in the same service under Perron until 1803, when, on the outbreak of the second Anglo-Maratha War, he refused to serve against his countrymen.

He joined Lord Lake, and raised a regiment of irregular cavalry called "Skinner's Horse" or the "Yellow Boys," which became the most famous regiment of light cavalry in the India of that day. He was present at the siege of Bharatpur, and in 1818 was granted a jagir yielding Rs 20,000 a year, appointed lieutenant-colonel in the British service and made CB.

He had an intimate knowledge of the character of the people of India, and his advice was highly valued by successive governor-generals and commanders-in-chief. He died at Hansi on the 4th of December 1841, and was buried in a church at Delhi which is called after his name.