The town of Abbottabad, under the British Raj, was the
headquarters of the Hazara District during British rule of India. It was named
after Major James Abbott who founded the town and district in January 1853
after the annexation of Punjab. He remained the first Deputy Commissioner of
the Hazara district from 1849 until April 1853. Major Abbott is noted for
having written a poem titled "Abbottabad", before he went back to
Britain, in which he wrote of his fondness for the town and his sadness at
having to leave it. In the early 20th century, Abbottabad became an important
military cantonment and
