Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/599

 1899.]

OBITUARY.

175

Mohammed Ahmed seized the oppor- tunity and, at first secretly, but after- wards publicly declared himself to be Mahdi el Muntazer, charged with the mission of driving all foreigners, in- cluding Turks and Egyptians, out of the country. Abdul-lahi faithfully served his new master, and was his most able lieutenant during nearly twenty years, and the former when on his death-bed designated Abdul-lahi as his successor, appointed by the prophet. This selection was promptly ratified by his followers, and the new Khalifa began his rule by sending letters to the Queen of England, the Sultan of Turkey, and the Khedive, summoning them to submit to his rule and to embrace Mahdism. Hostile operations against Egyptian territory followed almost immediately, and in 1885 Sennar, an important position, fell into the Khalifa's hands. Omdurman near Khartoum was, however, the chief seat of his power, and from it he sent forth his armies which ravaged the whole country of the Soudan and descended the Nile as far as Wady- Halfa. Previously, however, he pitted his forces in 1888 against Abyssinia, defeating and killing King John at the battle of Gallabat, but in the battle of Toski the Mahdists were completely routed. In the following year they made an expedition by way of Fashoda to Reggaf, which they took without

On the 1st, at Hampstead, aged 84, Rev. James Kennedy. Born at Aberfeldy, Perthshire ; educated at Aberdeen and Edinburgh Universities and at the Theo- logical College, Glasgow ; went as Missionary to India, 1889, and rendered valuable services at Benares during the Mutiny, 1867-8 ; returned and appointed Pastor at Portobello, 1877-87 ; author of " Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon " (1884). On the 3rd, at Tim bridge Wells, aged 86, Anna Swanwlch, LL.D., a zealous champion of female education, daughter of John Swanwich, of Liverpool. Studied at Berlin, 1839-43; published translations from Goethe and Schiller (1848), verse translations of " Faust " (part i.) and "Egmont" (1850), tragedies of ^jschylus' dramas, 1865-73 ; author of various works and original Member of the Council of Queen's and Bedford Colleges ; assisted in founding Girton College, Cambridge, and Somerville Hall, Oxford. On the 3rd, at Paris, aged 74, Jean Ft. Bug. Roblnet, an eminent Positivist writer. Born at Vic-sur-Seille (Meurthe); studied medicine at Paris University; Curator of the Municipal Library, 1890 ; was Auguste Comte's medical attendant and one of his thirteen executors ; author of '* Life of Dan ton " and other works. On the 3rd, at Man- chester, aged 71, Thomas Hudson Jordan, son of William Jordan, of Manchester. Began life as a journalist on the Manchester Courier; called to the Bar at Gray's Inn, 1861; appointed County Court Judge (Staffordshire District), 1883. Married, 1859, Clara Jane, daughter of Henry Hewitt, of Higher Broughton, • Manchester. On the 3rd, at Windsor, aged 69, Lord Howard de Walden and 8eaford, Frederick George Ellis, seventh Baron Howard de Walden and third Baron Seaford. Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge ; M. A., 1851 ; served in the Diplomatic Service, 1851-5; entered 4th Hussars, 1855; retired, 1870. Married, 1876, Blanche, daughter of William Holden, of Palace House, Lancaster. On the 4th, at New York, aged 78, Sir Joslah Sees, son of J. Roes. Called to the Bar at the Inner Temple, 1851 ; Revising Barrister, 1865-77 ; Chief Justice of Bermuda, 1878, and President of the Legislative Council. Married, 1876, Eliza, daughter of J. Acock, of Cheltenham. On the 6th, at London, aged 74, Monslgnor Magnire. Born at Cork ; educated at Maynooth ; acted as Roman

difficulty, but not before Emin Pasha had been rescued by H. M. Stanley. They were, however, soon after de- feated at Gadaref by the Italians, who also captured Kassala. Meanwhile his followers had pushed northwards along the course of the Nile, destroying everything in the shape of cultivation and civilisation, and killing men, women, and children of the native tribes who resisted his will or refused to adopt his faith. At length the Egyptian Army, reinforced and dis- ciplined by British officers and men, began the campaign which was to put an end to the cruelties of the Mahdist rule. The Nile campaign extended over three years, in the course of which the Mahdists were steadily driven from one stronghold to another, but the Khalifa, who escaped on every occasion, was apparently always able to bring together a fresh army. Not- withstanding his apparently crushing defeat at Omdurman, but a little more than a year elapsed before he was again in force upon the White Nile. He was attacked by Sir Francis Win- gate near Gedid, and after a stubborn fight his army was routed and he himself killed on November 25, leaving behind him the reputation of a brutal tyrant and a false friend, but dying heroically, his Emirs standing round him till they fell.