WALTER SAUNDERS BARNARD (BRITISH 1851-1930)
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE ENGLISH COLLECTION
Portrait of Sir John Forsyth C.B., K.C.S.I (1799-1883)
(Honoray Physician to the Queen)
inscribed verso: ‘Surgeon General Sir John F[orsyth], Drawn and painted from life [Lo]ndon 1881 [by] Walter Barnard’
oil on canvas
70.5 X 72 cm

Sir John Forsyth entered the service of the Honorable East India Company in October, 1819.
During the first 19 years of his career in India, he held several important military and civil charges.
It was not, however, until the year 1838 that he was placed in a position to develop those powers of organisation and command which rendered the remainder of his official life so useful and prominent.
He was appointed senior surgeon to the force, numbering 9,000, which served under His Majesty Soojah-ooL-Moolk. While thus employed he took part in the first capture of Ghuzni, and was in 1840 decorated by Shan Soojah with the Third Class of the Order of the Doorranee Empire.

His services in Afghanistan entitled him to medals for Ghuzni, Jellalabad, and Cabul.
Appointed in 1843 as Secretary to the Medical Board, he performed the responsible duties of that important office till 1852.
He served during this period as a Member of the Council of Education and Examiner of Candidates for Diplomas at the Calcutta Medical College.

Various special tokens of appreciation of his services were subsequently conferred on him. He obtained the mutiny medal (not shown in the portrait). In 1861 he was appointed Honorary Physician to the Queen; in 1862 he was created a Companion of the Bath, and in 1881, Knight Commander of the Star of India.

(Indian Medical Gazette, 1883)

He served in various important positions during the 19th century. He was honored with the titles of Companion of the Bath (C.B.) and Knight Commander of the Star of India (K.C.S.I.).

Forsyth had a distinguished career in the British diplomatic service, particularly in relation to his work in Asia. He served as the British Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of Tehran in Persia (present-day Iran) from 1841 to 1851. During his tenure, he played a significant role in negotiating diplomatic and trade agreements between Britain and Persia.

Medals shown left -right

Order of the Star of India, badge (K.C.S.I)
Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB)
Three Campaign Medals
Order of the Durrani Empire 3rd class
Order of the Star of India, star (K.C.S.I)