RARE: Hermit. Grey Arabian Stallion, exemplar of the breed brought to England by Maj General and Mrs Turnbull. After a portrait by James Clark.
William Tweedie began his highly decorated military career as a Cadet in the 37th Bengal Infantry in 1857 and two months later was promoted to Ensign and engaged in battle during the Sepoy Mutiny (Sepoys were the native troops of the East India Company, which largely controlled India). He was wounded at Benares but took part in the relief of Lucknow with the 78th Highlanders.

Following his military baptism, Tweedie rose quickly through the ranks and gained proficiency in Hindustani, Persian and Arabic and was appointed to the Intelligence Department of the Abyssinian Expedition and served as Political Secretary to Commander-in-Chief Lt.-General Sir Robert Napier. Following the Expedition, Tweedie resumed his duties at Hyderabad and thereafter followed another series of promotions until he was appointed Governor of Hyderabad.

At the beginning of the Second Afghan War, Tweedie commanded the Jalalabad Division during the difficult advance through Khaibar and Gandamak to Kabul. He was then appointed Resident of Turkish Arabia in Baghdad and in 1885 became Political Agent of Ajmer but within a few months returned to his post at Baghdad and promoted to Consul-General. In 1886, Tweedie embarked on an official tour of Babylonia, Assyria and Mesopotamia and published an account of his travels in English and Persian. He then returned to his post as Resident in Baghdad. He was promoted to Major General and returned to Britain with his Arabian Stallion, Rashid.

 In 1894, William Blackwood, whom had been publishing popular articles by Tweedie since 1867, published The Arabian Horse, His Country and His People, considered the definitive work on the Arabian horse. Tweedie’s interest in producing this unusual piece was as a result of his own military experiences, where he found the horse the essential partner in any campaign.