Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/177

 GAURISHANKAR UDAYASHANKAR (1805–1891)

Born Aug. 21, 1805 : entered the service of the Bhaunagar State in 1822 : was employed in various political and revenue duties : became Assistant Diwan in 1839, and Diwan in 1846 : introducing many judicial, and revenue reforms, and asserted the State's rights against its neighbours : developed its port, commerce, roads, etc. : appointed Joint Administrator of the State during a minority : C.S.I, in 1877 : retired from the service of the State in 1879 : in 1886, became a Sanyasi, i.e. ascetic, renouncing the world : known as Swami Satchidanund Saras vati : died Dec. 1, 1891.

GAWLER, JOHN COX ( ? –1882)

Colonel : served with the 73rd regt. in the Kafir war, 1850–3 : in the engagements : district adjutant of Natal at the end of the war : in the Indian mutiny, towards the end : in 1860–1 commanded as Brigadier a considerable Field Force against the Raja of Sikhim : took the Raja's residence, and forced him to accept the treaty dictated to him : enetrated to the Tibet frontier : Keeper of H.M.'s regalia at the Tower of London : died July 31, 1882.

GEARY, GRATTAN ( ? –1900)

Editor of the Times of India : and subsequently acquired the Bombay Gazette : took a prominent part in Bombay municipal affairs and was at one time Chairman of the Corporation : wrote Through Asiatic Turkey : a Narrative of a Journey from Bombay to the Bosphorus, 1878 : an able writer, and indefatigable worker; exerted no little influence on public events in India : died Sep. 1900.

GELL, RIGHT REV. FREDERICK (1810–1902)

Son of Rev. Philip Ge'i : educated at Trinity College, Cambridge : Scholar : Bell University Scholar : Fellow of Christ's College, 1843 : ordained, 1843 : lecturer and tutor : Cambridge Preacher at Chapel Royal, Whitehall : Domestic Chaplain to Bishop of London (Dr. Tait) : Bishop of Madras, 1861–98 when he retired : died at Coonoor, March 25, 1902 : D.D.

GENTIL, JEAN BAPTISTE JOSEPH (1726–1799)

Born at Bagnols, June 25, 1726 : of noble family : in 1752 went out to India as officer in an Infantry regt. : served with distinction under Dupleix, Law of Lauriston, Lally, etc. After the collapse of the French power in India and the surrender of Pondicherry to the English, in 1761, Gentil served for a time under Mir Kasim, Nawab of Bengal, then under Shuja-ud-daula, Nawab of Oudh, who loaded him with honours : was most generous in helping less fortunate fellow countrymen, and enrolled a body of them to serve under the Nawab : after the defeat of the Nawab at Baxar, Gentil helped to negotiate peace between him and the English : after Shuja-ud-daula's death in 1775. Gentil was compelled by the English to leave, and in 1778 returned to France : appointed Colonel of Infantry : was already Chevalier of St. Louis, 1771 : died in poverty, having lost his pension at the Revolution, at Bagnols, Feb. 15, 1799 : author of Memoires sur l'lndoustan, Histoire des Radjahs de l'Hindoustan, etc. : his collection of Persian MSS. is in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris.

GERARD, ALEXANDER (1792–1839)

Son of Gilbert Gerard, D.D. and brother of James Gilbert (q.v.) and Patrick (q.v.) : born Feb. 17, 1792 : joined the Bengal N.I. in 1808 : employed in survey work in 1812–7 and after, and 1825–7 : ascended great heights in the Himalayas and penetrated into Tibet : in 1821, he ascended the Charang Pass, over 17,000 ft.; the Keeobrang Pass, over 18,000 ft., and Mount Tahigung, over 22,000 ft.; travelled from Sabathu to Shipki in Chinese Tartary, and from Shipki to Chinese Tibet, and wrote an account of his attempt to penetrate to the lake Mansarowar : he retired early from ill-health, in 1836 : died Dec. 15, 1839.

GERARD, JAMES GILBERT (1796–1835)

Son of Gilbert Gerard, D.D. : born 1795 : entered the E.I. Co.'s Bengal medical service in 1814 : accompanied his brother Alexander in his Himalayan travels : in 1831 went with (Sir Alexander)