IRVINE, Francis. Drumoak, Aberdeenshire 8.2.1786 — Edinburgh 16.12.1855. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India. The youngest son of Alexander Irvine (1754–1844) and Jean Forbes (1755?–1786), mother died soon after his birth. Joined army as cadet in 1804 and left for India. Served in Bengal Native Infantry, Lieutenant 1805, Captain 1819.…
HOWELL, William. Madras (?) 1.11.1790 (1789?) — Madras c. 1867. Rev. Missionary. Son of the elder William Howell (d. 1803), a soldier who had arrived in India in 1789, and his wife (died perhaps in 1793). Educated in Madras. When 14 apprenticed as Assistant Surveyor in Madras Survey under Major…
HOUGH, William. 1789 — London 3.1.1865. British Colonial Officer in India. Came there in 1805, participated in Nepal War (1814-16), Third Maratha War (1817-18) and First Afghan War (1839-42), and was an authority on military law. Major (1838/45) and Deputy Judge Advocat General of Bengal Army, retired before 1853 as…
HARRIS, Henry. Mountrath, county Laois, Ireland 3.1.1758 — Madras 10.8.1822. British (Irish?) Physician in India. Son of John Harris (1715–1776) and Sarah Deaves. M.D. Arrived in 1783 at Madras. Married 1786 in Madras Jane Charles, three sons and two daughters (findagrave.com has three wives, 1786 Jane Charles, 1805 Mary and…
HAMILTON, Alexander. 16?? — after 1733. British Sea Captain. First sailed in Europe, North Africa and West Indies. In 1688-1723 trading and travelling in the East, operating from Surat. In 1717 commander of E.I.C.’s Bombay Navy, suppressing pirates. Publications: A New Account of the East Indies. 1-2. 29+8+396+309+10 p. Edinburgh…
GUERRIER DE DUMAST, Auguste Prosper François, baron. Nancy 26.2.1796 — Nancy 26.1.1883. French Scholar, a lay Orientalist. Son of François Louis Guerrier de Dumast (1775–1854) and Marie Françoise Nicolle (d. 1796). After school in Nancy studied law in Paris. Served in army, participated in 1823 Spanish war. From 1828 civil…
GRINDLAY, Robert Melville. St.Marylebone near London 23.10.1786 — Nice, France 9.12.1877. British Colonial Officer and Artist in India, then Businessman in London. Son of Rev. Dr. John Grindlay (1756–1818) and his wife Elizabeth. Educated in London, Cadet 1802. Arrived in India in 1803 (when 17) and served 1804-20 in Bombay Native…
FRANÇOIS-MARIE DE TOURS (Francesco Maria Da Tours, Franciscus Maria Turonensis). 16?? — Patna ?.5.1709. Father. French Capuchin Missionary in India and Tibet. Came from Tours and joined the order in Italy. Worked first as Capuchin Missionary in Diarbekir, Turkey, came to India in 1680. Worked in Pondicherry and Surat, in 1701 left…
FRANCIS, Henry Thomas. West Raynham, Norfolk 22.10.1837 — Cambridge 28.6.1924. British Indologist (Pāli scholar). Son of William Francis and Mary Gay. Education: schools at Walsingham & Ipswitch; from 1856 studies at Cambridge (B.A. 1860, M.A. 1863), 1861-73 Fellow of Caius College. Assistant schoolmaster in Kensington 1864-65, Bromsgrove 1865-73 and at…
FORBES (FORBES-LESLIE), Jonathan. Aberdeenshire 21.2.1798 — Fyvie, Aberdeenshire 23.12.1877. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer. Son of John Forbes (1758–1840) and Anne Margaret Gregory. Arrived at Ceylon as a young officer of 78th Highlanders in 1826, remained until 1837 advancing to Major. For a while Assistant Agent and District Judge in Matale,…