Skinner's Horse: – One of the most distinguished cavalry regiments of the Indian Army was raised by legendary Lt. Col. James Skinner in 1803 at Hansi. Regiment was raised as Local Horse, became an irregular unit in 1840 but due to its outstanding performance and defection of the entire Bengal regular cavalry during the Great Mutiny of 1857, it became a regular regiment in 1861.
The Founder: – James Skinner was born in 1778 in India to Lt. Col. Hercules Skinner, a Scottish and an officer in Honourable East India Company's Army. His mother was a Rajputani, daughter of a Zamindar who was taken prisoner at an age of 14 & since then she was with Lt. Col. Skinner who later marry her. The couple had 6 children – 3 girls & 3 boys; David, James & Robert. Hercules wanted to educate her daughters but his wife, who had strong belief in Rajput traditions & culture, was against it. She felt so strongly about it that she committed suicide when she could not do anything about it. James Skinner was first educated in a charity school & at a boarding school. His first job was in a printing press in Calcutta as an apprentice. He did not like the job & ran away, surviving with some odd jobs in bazaar. Soon he was found & taken back home. Then he worked in a law firm. He did not like that job either because he wanted to become a soldier in HEIC's army but he was denied commission as he was a country born. He was then suggested to join Maratha Army.
