Sher Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan (1825-1879) - 1870

Half-length seated portrait of Sher Ali Khan, Amir of Afghanistan from the 'Album of cartes de visite portraits of Indian rulers and notables' by Bourne and Shepherd, early 1870s. Sher Ali Khan was born in 1825, the third son of Dost Mohammad Khan, and succeeded to his father's throne in Afghanistan in 1863; initially his position was not secure due to family struggles, revolts and civil war. He attempted to maintain stability within Afghanistan as power struggles ensued between Russia to the north and British India to the south. During the Second Afghan War (1878-81) Sher Ali Khan fled the country but died in 1879 on the journey, before which he had placed his son, Ya'qub Khan on the throne.

Source : British Library