Sir William Macnaghten

Sir William Macnaghten (1793-1848) was a British lawyer and colonial administrator known for his role in the First Anglo-Afghan War. He served as the Chief Secretary to the Government of India and was a significant figure in British policy in Afghanistan. His tenure was marked by challenges, including the disastrous retreat from Kabul in 1842, where many British troops and civilians were killed. Macnaghten’s decisions and policies are often critiqued for their impact on British-Afghan relations, highlighting the complexities of imperial governance during the era of British colonial expansion.