Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/437

 THOMAS, FREDERICK WILLIAM (1867–)

Born March 21, 1867 : educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge : Fellow : Assistant Librarian to the India Office, 1898–1903 : Librarian, 1903 : author of Translation of the Sanskrit Harsa-Carita of Bana (with Professor Cowell); British Education in India, Mutual Influence of Muhammadans and Hindus in India, etc. etc. : Member of Council of the Royal Asiatic Society.

THOMAS, GEORGE (1756?–1802)

Born in Ireland about 1756 : a sailor in the Navy : deserted his ship off Madras, 1781 : took native service, and went to Delhi, 1787 : commanded the Army of Begam Samru of Sardhana : left her and commanded forces of Appa Rao : built Georgeghar near Hariana, and established Hansi fort : reconciled to Begam Samru : proclaimed his independence and, from Hansi, ruled over Hissar, Hansi, Sirsa, Rohtak, 1797–9 : became a military power : and had ambitious projects : but the Sikhs and Sindia's General, Perron, attacked him at Georgeghar in force : he fled to Hansi, and had to surrender, 1802 : deposed : en route to Calcutta, he died of fever, on board his pinnace at Berhampur, Aug. 22, 1802 : left his widow about £6,000 a year : his military genius, gallantry, and capacity have been acknowledged.

THOMAS, HENRY SULLIVAN ( ? - )

I.C.S. : educated at Haileybury, 1853–4 : joined the Madras Civil Service, 1855 ) Collr-Magte. in several districts : acting Member of the Board of Revenue, 1878 : Revenue Secretary to Government, 1878–9 : second Member, 1881, first Member, of Board, 1884 : Member of Governor-General's Legislative Council, 1882–3-5 : on special duty connected with the Pearl Fisheries, Tuticorin, and Ceylon, 1884 : Fellow, Madras University : retired, 1889 : wrote The Rod in India, 1873; Tank Angling in India, 1887.

THOMAS, JOHN (1757–1801)

Was the first Baptist Missionary in Bengal : born May 16, 1757, at Fairford, Gloucestershire : son of the deacon of the Baptist Chapel there : educated for the medical profession, and obtained an appointment in the Navy as Assistant Surgeon : poverty and debt caused him gladly to accept the post of Surgeon on the Earl of Oxford, a ship belonging to the E.I. Co. : sailed for Madras and Calcutta, 1783 : made a second voyage in the same ship, 1786, when he decided to remain in India and become a Missionary to the Bengalis. His friend and patron was Charles Grant (q.v.) : he first studied Bengali at Malda, residing there with Mr. Udny, commercial resident at the E. I.Co.'s factory there. After a visit to England, 1792–3, he returned to Bengal with (q.v.) to work under the newly formed Baptist Missionary Society. His career was a sad one : though earnest in his Mission work, he wanted balance, and brought discredit on himself and his work by frequent misunderstandings with his friends and constant money difficulties. He and Carey were employed for a time as indigo factors by Udny : later Thomas was engaged in the sugar trade : but none of his undertakings prospered. Under the strain his mind gave way : though he recovered and resumed indigo cultivation, he was again unfortunate : died of fever at Dinajpur, 1801.

THOMAS, JOHN FRYER (1797–1877)

I.C.S. : born 1797 : educated at Haileybury, 1814–5 : went to Madras, 1816; became Secretary to Government, Madras, 1844, and Chief Secretary, 1845 : Chief Judge of the Sadr Court, Madras : Member of Council, Madras, 1850–55 : held strong views on native education, and supported the Missionaries : died April 7, 1877.

THOMASON, JAMES (1804–1863)

I.C.S. : born May 3, 1804 : son of Rev-Thomas Truebody Thomason, Indian Chaplain : educated at Stansted, and Haileybury, 1820–2 : to India, 1822 : Registrar of the Sadr Court : Secretary to Government, 1830–2 : Magistrate-Collector of Azimghar, 1832–7 : Secretary to the Agra Government, 1837–41 : Member of the Board of Revenue, 1841 : Foreign Secretary to the Government of India, 1842–3 : Lieutenant-Governor of the N.W.P., Dec. 1843. to Sep. 1853 : died at Bareli, Sep. 29, 1853 : appointed Governor of Madras on the day of h s