George Roos-Keppel

Who was George Roos-Keppel?

Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Olaf Roos-Keppel, GCIE, KCSI was a British military officer who served in the capacities of Political Agent to the Governor-General in Kurram and Khyber, and later as Chief Commissioner, North West Frontier Province from 1908 till 1919. He is also known for his role in 3rd Afghan War.

He was commissioned in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in the 1880s and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1892 and to Captain in 1895. In 1900 he was appointed a CIE and was promoted to Brevet Major in 1902, receiving further promotions to Major in 1904 and to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1907. In 1908, he was knighted with the KCIE and was promoted to full Lieutenant-Colonel in 1912.

In 1913, Roos-Keppel, along with Nawab Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum established Islamia College, which was inaugurated by Haji Sahib Turangzai. Roos-Keppel was also president of Central Committee of Examiners in Pashto. He is credited with foreseeing the genius in the young Cambridge graduate Inayatullah Khan by appointing him, at the age of 24, the Vice Principal of Islamia College in 1913, and then the Principal in 1917. He was appointed a KCSI in 1915 and a GCIE in 1917.