Henri Polier was born in Switzerland, the son of a Frenchman, and came to India in 1757. Upon arrival he entered in the service of the East India Company as Assistant Engineer at Calcutta, and was promoted as Chief Engineer with the rank of Captain in 1762. However, not being of English stock ensured he could not get any further promotion but at the behest of Warran Hastings he accepted deputation with the Nawab of Oudh, Shuja and Asaf-ud-Daula as architects and engineer.
However, soon after he sought employment with the Mughal Emperor for sometime, before being readmitted into the Company's service in 1782 as Lieutenant Colonel and stationed at Lucknow. He finally retired frmo the job in 1789 and returned to Europe to settle down near Avignon in France. There he was murdered by revolutionaries on February 9, 1795.
Shah Alam II and His Court: A Narrative of the Transactions at the Court of Delhy from the Year 1771 to the Present Time captures Colonel Antoine Louis Henri de Polier's time whilst employed by Shah Alam and includes observations of the Sikhs.
The book conforms to Print Book: A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in / 148 x 210 mm), 116 pages, Premium Black & White, 60# White, Paperback, Matte Cover