SKINNER (1) Hercules (?-1803) married a Rajput girl and had substantial Indian lands. Of their children (2) James (1778-1841) ran away from school and was commissioned by de Boigne, Scindia’s French military adviser, in the Maratha army. As a Maratha he took part in the capture of Delhi in 1798 and of Jhansi in 1799. In 1803 he was dismissed when the British attacked Aligarh and having joined them, took command of some cavalry which had also left Maratha service. This was the origin of the famous unit called  Skinner’s Horse, with which he distinguished himself in the campaign against Holkar in 1825. The British govt rewarded him with estates upon which he spent large sums and where he lived royally and had at least 14 wives..