Rajasthan in the 1880s and 1890s

Rajasthan in the 1880s and 1890s through the eyes of a female Scottish expat. Some highlights from our watercolour collection, Etta Fraser: Portrait of India.

Margaretta Ogle Bell-Irving was born in Dumfriesshire in 1853. Her brother William went out to India in 1874, and found success there are as a partner of the mercantile firm of Jardine, Skinner & Co in Calcutta and as President of the Bank of Bengal. Etta possibly followed William to India, and by 1887 we find her marrying Major Edward Alexander Fraser at St Paul's Church in Matheran. It appears that Edward was born in India, and rose through the ranks in the British Indian army to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Madras Staff Corps. He also held a position in the Political Department of the Government of India.

View the full collection by Etta Fraser.