Khoja Gregory

Khoja Gregory was a successful Armenian merchant and advisor to Mir Qasim, Nawab of Bengal (1760-1763). Khoja Gregory came to Bengal from New Julfa with his two brothers Khoja Petruse and Barsick Aratoon, both merchants. Petruse was even a representative of Armenian merchants in Hugli until 1741 and a benefactor of Armenian community. But it was Khoja Gregory who played a vital role in the trade and politics of Bengal, especially in the 1760s.

Gregory started his career as a cloth merchant in Hugli, and with the help of his brother, Khoja Petruse, was introduced to Nawab Mir Qasim. Starting as a cloth merchant, Gregory rose to the height of his power and eminence under Nawab Mir Qasim. He was not only the Commander-in-Chief of the Nawab but his Minister and adviser as well. Khoja Gregory is also known as Gurgin Khan, as Nawab renamed him. One of the most notable Gregory’s acts was to reform Mir Qasim’s army after the European standards.

Gregory’s rise in Nawabs court did not go unnoticed and was the cause for jealousy by some and surprise by others. The English were especially concerned with his rise. The highest officials of the English East India Company were concerned because Gregory and his brother were merchants with great influence on Bengal’s highest authority, and as such represented competition for them. The English considered Gregory’s trade greatly detrimental to theirs.

Gregory’s official position brought him wealth and respect but also many enemies. An assassin killed him, under mysterious circumstances, in August 1763.