In 1857 he was selected on account of his devotion to botany and natural history as an assistant to Dr Hugh Cleghorn, the first conservator of the newly formed forest department of the Madras presidency.
He was selected on account of his devotion to botany and natural history as an assistant to Dr Hugh Cleghorn. This was in 1857. Dr Hugh Cleghorn was the first conservator of the newly formed forest department of the Madras presidency.