BURKITT, Francis Crawford. Marylebone, London 3.9.1864 — Cambridge 11.5.1935. British Theologian, Biblical and Syriac Scholar. Son of Crawford B. Educated at Harrow. Studied first mathematics at Cambridge (Trinity College), B.A. 1886, then turned to theology. M.A. 1890. In 1903-05 Lecturer in Palaeography, from 1905 Professor of divinity at Cambridge, until shortly…
BRUCE, John. Fife 1744/45 — Fife 16.4.1826. British (Scottish) Historian of the Colonial Period. Son of shipmaster Andrew Bruce (1716–1761) and Jean Squyre. Studies at Edinburgh, then Professor of Logic and Moral Philosophy there. Historiographer of E.I.C. from 1801. In 1809-14 M.P. for Michell, Cornwall. Founding member of Royal Society…
BRODIE, Alexander Oswald. Madras 1821 — Edinburgh 5/6.11.1874. British (Scottish) Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Son of Colonel James Brodie (1782–1831), of Madras Army, and Eliza Thompson. From 1845 in Ceylon rising to Assistant Agent at Matale, in 1853 returned to the U.K., got married and resigned from service in…
BRANDT, Francis. Pendleton, Lancashire 6.5.1840 — Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 17.7.1925. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Robert Brandt and his wife Margaret. Educated at Cheltenham College, became famous as cricketer. After graduation from Oxford (Brasenose College, B.A. 1870) joined I.C.S. in 1862, served in South India. From 1884 Judge in…
BRADDOCK, John. Westminster 1794 (bapt. 30.4.) — Madras 9.8.1840. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of John Braddock, a master refiner of saltpetre, and his wife Sarah . Served in Madras army as “an expert making gunpowder”. In the Preface to gunpowder book, signed in Madras 1830, he says to…
BETTS, Ursula Violet Graham (née U. V. G. Bower). Wiltshire 15.5.1914 — Fordingbridge, Hampshire 12.11.1988. British Anthropologist. Daughter of Commander John Graham Bower (1886–1940) of Royal Navy and Doris Violet Coghlan White (1893–1985). Educated at Roedean School, but family difficulties prevented planned studies of archaeology at Oxford. First visit to…
BERESFORD, George Read Edward. London 3.8.1815 — Delhi 11.5.1857. British Banker in India. Son of Thomas Beresford (d. 1819) and Ann Blake, went to India in 1834-35. Manager of Cawnpur Bank, in 1849 transferred to become manager of Delhi Bank. “Massacred with his wife and five daughters … at the…
BELL, Thomas Evans. London 11.11.1825 — Kensington, London 12.9.1887. British Colonial Officer in India. Major. Son of William Bell and Elizabeth Kinnear, educated at Wandsworth (London). Joined Madras Army in 1842. In 1855-60 Assistant Commissioner in Nagpur, lost his position because of disagreement with Chief Commissioner. In 1861-63 Deputy Commissioner of…
BEALE, Thomas William. 1??? — Agra 1875. British Civil Servant and Oriental Scholar in India. Very little is known of his life. He worked as clerk in the office of Board of Revenue, North-Western Provinces. Assisted H. M. Elliot in his work about Muslim Indian history. “Died at a great…
BATESON, Joseph Harger. Kendal, Westmoreland 5.3.1865 — 5.10.1935. Rev. British clergyman in Burma. Son of Thomas Bateson and Sarah Severs. From 1886 until 1913 Chaplain of territorial Forces, at least initially served in Burma, later in western India. Secretary of Wesleyan Army and Navy Board. Married 1892 Rose Edmeades, one…