SONNERAT, Pierre. Lyon 18.8.1748 — Paris 31.3.1814. French Naval Officer, Naturalist and Traveller in the East. Travels: 1768-71 Madagascar and neighbouring islands, 1772-74 Moluccas and Philippines, 1774-81 India and China. Correspondent of the French Academy. Details of his life, especially of early years, are defective. In his first travel collaborated…
SLEEMAN, William Henry. Stratton, Cornwall 18.8.1788 — at sea 10/25.2.1856. Sir. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of yeoman Philip Sl. and Mary Spray, lost his father in 1798, mother 1818. In 1809 joined the Bengal Army as infantry cadet, was immediately sent to India. From 1810 Ensign, 1814 Lieutenant,…
SIDDONS, George Richard. Fort Marlborough, Bengkulu, Sumatra 1.12.1809 — at sea ?.7.1857. British Colonial Officer in India. Major. Son of George John S. of Bengal Civil Service and Mary Fombelle, born in the British base in Sumatra, baptized in Calcutta. Lieutenant in the 1830s, then Captain, finally Major. Married 1850…
SICÉ, François Eugène. 1 Pondichéry 10.7.1816 — 28.3.1881. French Colonial Officer in India, interested in Indian Law. Son of Louis Sicé, a police officer, and Jeanne Laforgue. Sous-commissaire de la marine, in Pondichéry from 1838, 1846 commissaire, later also in Karikal. Married 1838 Josephine Commiade, one son (or more). The…
SHORE, John (1798 first baron Teignmouth). London 5. or 8.10.1751 — London 14.2.1834. British Colonial Officer. Son of E.I.C. employee Thomas Shore and Dorothy Shepherd. Educated at Harrow. In India 1769-90 in E.I.C.’s civil service in Calcutta: in 1775-80 Member of Committee of Revenue, then Revenue Commissioner in Dacca and Bihar…
SHAKESPEAR, John. Indore 1.9.1861 — 1942. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Colonel Sir Richmond Campbell Sh. (1812–61, served in India) and Marion Sophia Thompson. “Educated at Wellington College and Sandhurst, entered the Army, 1881, and became Major, 1895. Intelligence Officer, Lushai and Chin-Lushai expeditions, 1888-9, … Superintendent, South…
SEELY, John Benjamin. St.Pancras, London 1786 — India 1826. British Colonial Officer in India. Captain in Bombay Native Infantry. He gave the first detailed account of Elura caves and temples. Son of Lawyer John Seely and his wife Lucinda. He himself tells, to excuse his poor education, that he went…
WOOD, John. Perth, Scotland 1812 — London 13.11.1871. British (Scottish) Naval Officer in India and Traveller in Central Asia. Educated at Perth Academy, in 1826 joined the E.I.C.’s navy. “Commanded the first [steam] vessel, the Indus, in the navigation of the Indus river, 1835-6; Assistant to Burnes in his commercial…
WILKS, Mark. Isle of Man 1759 — Kelloe House, Berwickshire 19.9.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. James Wilks and Elizabeth Christian, a family of Manx gentry. Joined the E.I.C.’s army and went to Madras in 1782. Learned soon Persian. In 1786 Deputy Secretary to the Military Board…
WILFORD, Francis. 1761 (1771 makes him too young for his early career) — Benares 1822. British (of German Origin) Colonial Officer and Indologist in India. Born in the Kingdom of Hannover, obtained classical education. In 1781 joined the E.I.C.’s military service. Served many years as Lieutenant, in the end Colonel…