Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/451

  of Pitcairn island, being among the lost).

VAN STRAUBENZEE, SIR CHARLES THOMAS (1812–1892)

Son of Major Thomas Van Straubenzee R.A.: born Feb. 17, 1812: went to Ceylon in the Ceylon rifles, 1829: to Mysore, 1833, in the 39th regt.: in the Coorg expedition, 1834: in the battle of Maharajpur, 1843: Brevet-Lt-Colonel, 1844: in the Crimea as Brig-General, 1855–6: wounded at the Redan: C.B.: commanded a Brigade and, later, the Land Forces in China, 1857–60: K.C.B., 1858: commanded a Division in Bombay, 1862–6, and the Bombay Army temporarily from March to Nov. 1865: Governor of Malta, 1872–8: General and G.C.B., 1875: retired, 1881: died Aug. 10, 1892.

VAN STRAUBENZEE, TURNER (1838–)

Son of Colonel Henry Van Straubenzee: educated at Woolwich: entered the Royal Artillery, 1855, and became Lt-Colonel, 1882: A.D.C. to the Governor of Bombay, 1869–72: Instructor in Gunnery, Shoeburyness, 1874–9: commanded R.A., Indian Contingent in Egypt, 1882: C.B.: commanded Madras District as Brig-General, 1891–5: retired, 1895, as Maj-General.

VARMA, RAVI (1848–)

An artist: born 1848: connected by marriage with the Maharaja of Travan-core: chiefly taught himself to paint, but also received help from British artists in S. India: has taken prizes at many exhibitions in India, London, and America, and painted portraits of high officials and native Princes in India.

VAUGHAN, HUGH THOMAS JONES (1841–)

Entered the Army, 1857, and became Colonel, 1887: served in the Indian mutiny, 1857–8: Afghan war, 1878–80: Zaimusht expedition: Brevet-Lt-Colonel: Lt-Colonel commanding the troops in Straits Settlement, 1894–1901: C.B., 1894.

VAUGHAN, SIR JOHN LUTHER (1820–)

Maj-General: son of Rev. E.T.Vaughan: educated at Rugby: entered the Indian Army, 1840: served as A.D.C. to Sir John Littler at Maharajpur: in the Crimea, 1855: commanded a Field Force in the Yusafzai expedition, 1857: in the mutiny commanded the 5th Panjab N.I. in Oudh, after the capture of Lucknow: Brevet-Lt-Colonel: commanded a Column on the Rapti, 1859: in the Umbeyla campaign, 1863: commanded a Brigade in the Black Mountain expedition, 1868: author of A Grammar and Vocabulary of the Pashtu Language: My Service in the Indian Army and After: K.C.B., 1887.

VETCH, GEORGE ANDERSON (1786–1873)

Lt-Colonel: joined in India the E. I. Co.'s 54th N.I. in 1807: severely wounded in the storming of Kumaon: in the Nipal war, 1815–16, distinguished himself by great personal bravery: retired in 1836, wrote his Eastern reminiscences in Gregory's Gong and Dara, or the Minstrel Prince, works of literary merit: died Oct. 10, 1873.

VENABLES, EDWARD FREDERICK (1818–1858)

Born May 5, 1815: son of Lazarus Jones Venables, barrister: was an indigo planter near Azimghar, N.W.P.: in the mutiny of 1857, he raised a force of volunteer cavalry and police, re-occupied Azimghar, released Europeans from confinement: commanded the mixed body of Cavalry at Mandori: and did good service in Oudh under Franks and Lugard: wounded and died in pursuit of Kooer Singh, April 19, 1858.<section end="Venables, Edward Frederick" />

<section begin="Ventura" />VENTURA (? –1858)

General: one of the first of the foreign Generals who trained the army of Ranjit Singh on the European model: said to have been an Italian by birth: an Infantry Colonel in Napoleon's army: also (doubtfully) said to have been a Jew, named Reuben-Ben-Toora: employed in Persia: reached Lahore, March, 1822: commanded a Brigade: with Allard (q. v.) helped to defeat the Afghans in 1823: received high pay (often in arrear) and grants of land from Ranjit Singh: constantly engaged in his campaigns and expeditions, sometimes, to stop the Sikhs' jealousy, sharing the command with a member of Ranjit's family: in 1831–3. on service to Multan: made Kazi and Governor<section end="Ventura" />