Major General Sir Alexander Cunningham was a British Army engineer with the Bengal Engineer Group who later took an interest in the history and archaeology of India. In 1861, he was appointed to the newly created position of archaeological surveyor to the government of India; and he founded and organised what later became the Archaeological Survey of India.
Alexander Cunningham
Cunningham (fourth from the right) at an unknown date
Leh Palace, Ladakh. Illustration from Ladak: Physical, Statistical, and Historical
Letter dated 31 January 1862, appointing Cunningham as Surveyor General
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is an Indian government agency that is responsible for archaeological research and the conservation and preservation of cultural historical monuments in the country. It was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham during the British Raj who also became its first Director-General.
Official logo of the ASI
Image: ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA GOA
Sir Alexander Cunningham
Sir Edward Charles Buck (1838–1916), Civil servant in Bengal, India