One of the first residents of Patna who made London his home and who opened Britain's first curry restaurant in 1810 was honoured with a plaque Thursday.

Sake Dean Mahomed established the Hindoostane Coffee House in George Street, Portman Square, central London. The premises are now a building called Carlton House.

The plaque celebrates the achievements of former Westminster residents.

Dean Mohamed joined the East India Company's Bengal Army at the age of 11 and rose to the rank of captain.

He is said to have fought in a number of campaigns until 1782, when he resigned from the army and arrived in Britain in 1784.

In Ireland, where he first settled, he married Jane Daly, and published his book of 'Travels', which made him the first Indian writer to be published in English.

He later moved to Portman Square where he became an assistant to Sir Basil Cochrane at his vapour bath.

This is where Mahomed is said to have added an Indian treatment, 'champi' or therapeutic massage, to Cochrane's bath, which became very fashionable.

In Brighton he established the Indian Therapeutic Massage at his Vapour Baths and rose to become George IV's Shampooing Surgeon. His books provide biographical details of his life in India and Britain.

In 1810 he opened the Hindoostane Coffee House serving Indian dishes as well as Hookha with real Chilm tobacco.

Dean Mahomed was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1812. He died in 1851 and was buried in St Nicholas' churchyard in Brighton.

His tombstone says he was 102 years old.