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Patrick John Chiene was born in Penang on 20th May, 1807, son of Patrick Chiene a shipbuilder at Penang. He married Eliza, daughter of "the late Lietenan Cunninghame of the Bengal Establishment".

He was an East India company Cadet in 1825, and commissioned Ensigh in the 42nd Native Infantry on 8th July, 1826, but posted to the 34th Native Infantry. In June, 1830, heserved as Adjutant to the 3rd Local Light Horse (an irregular unit). Between 1832 and 1833 he served in a campaign against the Kols, apparently with the 34th N.I. He was Lieutenant on 6th August, 1835, and Captain 24th january 1845. he was on extended leave between 9th April, 1841 until 28th November, 1843; the Bengal Army Lists note "s.C." at this entry which means sick certificate.

The 35th N.I. were disbanded for mutiny at meerut in 1844, bur reformed in 1846. Chiene was in fact in command of the meerut Police Battalion from 18th April, 1844 until 1846, and was Post-Master at Meerut from 1844. he seems to either have held this post for a very short time, or at the same time as he was in charge of Police. He was still officially in the Bengal Army (34th N.I.) while he held these appointments but retired from the Army in February 1850 as a Captain. In November 1854 he was made an Honorary major. I in not too clear, but I assume as a retired Indian Officer. In the same month of 1857 Chiene is shown in the Edinburgh Artillery Militia as a Captain and "late Captain Bengal native Infantry", and so remains until 1859. There is no further mention of him in 1860.

The Bengal List gives his death as 16th June, 1898. One can assume he came to Scotland at least by, or in, 1854, but I have no reference to his place of death. His commission in the Bengal Army was of course an East India Company commission, not in hte British Army. After the indian Mytiny the Company Army ceased to exist. his rank of Captain in the Edinburgh Artilery Militia was not in the British regular Army either, Militia appointments being separate.

His actual ranks were, Captain in the service of the east India Company's Bengal Army, becoming an Honorary major after his retirement, and a Captaincy in the Edinburgh Artillery militia between 1854 and 1860.