Madam, – It was of interest to note how Joanna Lumley made a case for the Gurkhas to stay in the UK. I wonder if she knows that the Gurkhas were founded by an Irishman – of the landed gentry of the time.
His name was Frederick Young and he was born in Culdaff, Co Donegal in Inishowen in 1786. His ancestors were planters who had come to Culdaff about 1630. His family were granted lands on lease from the Marquis of Donegal.
Frederick Young went to India at the age of 14 to take up a career in the British army. He become a general and during his term there he established a good relationship with the hill tribes and thus founded the Gurkha Regiment.
In later life he came back to live in Ireland. Unfortunately for him there was also a bank crisis in 1854 and he lost his money. He died in 1874 in Ballybrack, Co Donegal. – Yours, etc,