SMITH, George. Leith near Edinburgh 28.4.1833 — Edinburgh 24.12.1919. British (Scottish) Teacher in India, Historian and Geographer. Son of Adam Smith (1809–1837) and Isabella Anderson. Educated at the Royal High School, studies at University of Edinburgh: LL.D. 1868. Professor 1854 and Principal 1855-58 of the Doveton College, Madras. Then worked…
SLEEMAN, William Henry. Stratton, Cornwall 18.8.1788 — at sea 10/25.2.1856. Sir. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of yeoman Philip Sleeman and Mary Spray, lost his father in 1798 (or 1802?), mother 1818. In 1809 joined the Bengal Army as infantry cadet, was immediately sent to India. From 1810 Ensign,…
SKRINE, Francis Henry Bennett. 1847 — 1933. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Rev. Clarmont Skrine, a retired officer in Wimbledon, and Mary Anne Bennett. Educated at Blackheath School; entered the I.C.S. 1868, served in Bengal and Bihar. In the 1880s worked on famine relief in Bihar and Madras.…
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 (1710–1759) 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…
WILSON, Horace Hayman. London 26.9.1786 (date uncertain) — London 8.5.1860. British Indologist. In India 1808-32, then Professor in Oxford. Born in a modest family. Educated in London and studied medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital, but also learned the elements of minting. In 1808 left forBengal as Assistant-Surgeon, during the six months’…
WILKS, Mark. Isle of Man 1759 — Kelloe House, Berwickshire 19.9.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. James Wilks (1719–1777) 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…
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.…
WHEELER, James Talboys. Oxford 22.12.1824 — Ramsgate, Kent 13.1.1897. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Son of James Luft Wheeler, a bookseller, and Anna Ophelia Talboys, privately educated. “Began as a publisher and book-seller. [During Crimean War] War Office extra clerk. Went to Madras to edit the Madras Spectator,…
WESTMACOTT, George Edward. London 23.2.1807 — near Kabul 23.11.1841, when 35. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of George W. (1783–1868) and Ann Knightley Seller (1781–1855). Arrived in India in 1823 as Ensign. Captain 1833, then Assistant to the Government General’s Agent in North-East Frontier, visited Assam and Sindh. Participated…
WATSON, John Whaley. India 25.12.1837 — Rajkot, Gujarat 24.3.1889. British Colonial Officer in India, interested in Archaeology and History. Son of Colonel John Willis Watson of Bombay Artillery and Emma Armitage. Served in Bombay Staff Corps. In the end of the 1870s President of Rājasthānik Court in Kathiawar, in 1881-89 political…