Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 58.djvu/420

Wade 3 April 1794. He derived his first two names from General Claude Martine, the French solider of fortune, who was a friend of his father. Wade was appointed a cadet in the Bengal service in 1809, and immediately proceeded to India. On arrival he joined the institution at Baraset, near Calcutta, where cadets were instructed in the native languages and in the practical part of their military duties. After the shortest possible period—six months— Wade passed out of Baraset, receiving the sword of honour for proficiency.

After serving with the first battalion 15th regiment of native infantry on 29 July 1812. With this first regiment Wade served in 1813 in a field force on the Gwalior frontier, and was afterwards stationed at the cantonment of Kúnch. Through the unhealthiness of the station he presently found himself in command of his own corps and of a detachment of artillery. He acquitted himself of his charge in a manner which earned the approval of the governor-general and commander-in-chief.

Wade was promoted to lieutenant on 20 Oct. 1815, and was actively engaged during that year in operations caused by aggressive movements of the combined forces of Sindhia and Holkar against the state of Bhopal, which was friendly to the British Government. From 1816 to 1819 he served in the Pindari campaigns, being also employed with the fifth division, under General Sir J. W. Adams, at the siege and capture of the fortified town of Chanda. On the termination of hostilities in 1819 he was stationed at Lucknow.

In 1820–21 Wade officiated as brigade-major to the troops in Oude, and in 1822 he was deputed on political duty to Calcutta, as a bearer of a letter from the king of Oude to the governor-general. On the completion of his duty he was appointed an extra assistant in the office of the surveyor-general of India, and completed the examination, arrangement and analysis of the numerous maps and surveys which had for so many years accumulated there. So satisfied was the governor-general, Lord Hastings, with his performance of this duty that he desired to appoint him to the political department, and recommended him to the notice of his temporary successor, John Adam [q. v.]

By the latter Wade was on 28 Feb. 1823 appointed to the office of political assistant at Ludhiana, where his principal duty was at first the charge of Shah Shuja-ul-Mulk, the exiled ruler of Afghanistan. Shortly after his appointment to Ludhiana, however, negotiations of a very important nature devolved on him, as the alarm and excitement caused in India by the ill success of early operations in Burma endangered our northern frontier. Ranjit Singh, at this period of full vigour and at the height of his power, suspended his operations against the Afghans, and, assembling his whole force about Lahore, was ready to avail himself of any British reverse by joining the insurgent raja of Bhurtpore and other chiefs who were disaffected to the British government. Wade, who was promoted to the rank of captain on 13 May 1825, was in constant communication with the Sikh ruler throughout this critical period, and gradually succeeded in convincing Ranjit Singh of both the power and the sincerity of the British government. In 1826 the termination of the Burmese war and the capture of Bhurtpore conclusively established in the maharaja's mind the conviction of British ascendency; and in the following year Wade conducted a complimentary mission from Ranjit Singh to the governor-general, Lord Amherst, who in return sent presents by Wade's hand to the court of Amritsar. Lord Amherst shortly afterwards (autumn of 1827) entrusted him with the entire charge of our dealings with the maharaja. Wade performed this duty for seventeen years, during which time he was chiefly instrumental in maintaining harmony between the British and the Sikh governments; moresoever, he gained the confidence of Ranjit Singh to such an extent as to be permitted freely to visit the Punjab at a time when it was rigidly closed to British officials. In 1830, on the occasion of the mission of Lieutenant (afterwards Sir Alexander) Burnes [q v.] to Lahore, Wade was instructed to take over the presents which Burnes was conveying to the maharaja on the arrival of Burnes at the frontier; but, seeing the importance of others beside himself obtaining access to the Punjab, Wade generously suggested that Burnes should complete the mission. Wade was instrumental in arranging the historical interview at Rupar in October 1832 between Ranjit Singh and Lord William Cavendish Bentinck, an event of the very highest importance, which afforded convincing proof of Wade's influence over the maharaja. The complete success of Wade's diplomatic dealings with the maharaja was repeatedly acknowledged officially in letters from the various governors-general under whom he served to the court of directors, and in the replies of the latter; but he received no other reward for these services.

At length the determination of the British