Dalrymple, ALEXANDER

Dalrymple, ALEXANDER, hydrographer, was a younger brother of Sir David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, and was thus a member of an old and illustrious Scottish family (for its chief members, see STAIR and HAILES); he was born at New Hailes, near Edinburgh, 24th July 1737. At fifteen he sailed for Madras as writer in the East India Company's service, and after a few years' dreary work began to attract the notice of his superiors by his industry and intelligence. In 1759 he made a voyage of observation among the eastern islands, and after returning to Madras in 1762, was sent to open up the trade with Sulu, reaching Canton late in 1764. In 1775 he went to Madras as a member of council, but was recalled two years after on an unfounded charge of misconduct. He became hydrographer to the East India Company in 1779, and to the Admiralty in 1795, and died, three weeks after his summary dismissal from the latter office, 19th June 1808.