Edward Whyte was admitted as partner to Mackenzie, Lyall and Co. of Tank Square in 1832, followed by Mr. Alfred D Parker in 1838 and Mr. Francis B Paton in 1842. In 1829 the East India Company gave permission to Mr. Whyte to land and trade under certain conditions, also specifying what he covenanted to perform, concluding finally that he was not to leave the country "without paying his just debts". Whyte soon became the richest partner in the firm.
Under the Persons to Reside Act of 1826, the United Company Merchants of England had granted him “free license, power, and authority” to reside in “the principal settlement of Fort William in Bengal, belonging to the said United Company, in the East Indies… for the purpose of being employed in counting House of M C Jones, Mackenzie", and a contract was signed to that effect by William Babaingon.
[Ref: BPP, Vol.1,"The Old Calcutta Exchange", pp. 127-129]
According to the Freemason's Monthly Magazine Volume 1, November 1841, he was a senior warden of a lodge in Calcutta and "an ardent and enthusiastic mason".
For his masonic connections see http://tinyurl.com/pf4xqpa

Purba Hossain