Sir John Malcolm, K. C. B. (1769-1833), appointed to the East India Company's Military Service on the Madras Establishment in 1782, at the age of 15, and arrived at Fort St. George in the following year. He was so diminutive in stature at the time he presented himself before the Directors for nomination to a cadetship, that one of the Board said to him half-playfully, " And what would you do if you met Hyder Ali?" " Do, Sir," was the reply, " why I would out with my sword and cut off his head."

The answer was deemed sufficiently manly to compensate for his youth, and he received his appointment. Full length figure, about one-fifth the size of life: standing straight before the spectator with his face turned slightly to the right.