1882–5: Lt-General, 1889: C.B., 1889: General, 1894: died Jan. 1905.
BLAIR, SIR ROBERT ( ? - ? )
Joined the E. I. Co's 1st European Infantry in Bengal, 1773: with General Goddard's force from Bengal to Bombay, 1778–81: A.D.C. to Col. W. Blair commandmanding in the Doab, 1786–8: took the fortress of Sasni, 1802: in the Mahratta war, under Lake, at Alighar, Delhi, Agra, 1803: commanded at Cuttack, 1808: Maj-General, 1810: commanded Fort William and neighbouring districts, 1812: retired, 1817: K.C.B., 1815: Lt-General, 1817.
BLAKISTON, JOHN (1788–1867)
Son of Sir Mathew Blakiston, Bart.: born 1788: educated at Winchester: joined the Madras Engineers and the 27th regt.: as Major, present at Assaye, Bourbon, the Mauritius, and in the Peninsula campaign: the sole survivor of the regiment massacred in the mutiny of Vellore, 1806: and returned with (Sir R.R.) Gillespie, who came to the rescue: wrote Twelve Years Military Adventures, 1829: and Twenty Years in Retirement, 1836: died 1867.
BLAND, NATHANIEL (1803–1865)
Born Feb. 3, 1803: son of Nathaniel Bland (formerly called Crumpe) who took his mother's name: educated at Eton, 1818, and Christ Church, Oxford, 1821–5: was a distinguished Persian scholar: sent contributions to the R.A.S.J., 1843–53 : on Persian chess: on the Pote collection of Oriental MSS. in the Eton College Library, etc: took to gambling, had to sell his estate, and took his own life, Aug. 10, 1865.
BLANEY, THOMAS (1823–1903)
Doctor: born in Ireland; went to India, 1836, as apprentice in the subordinate medical service of the E. I. Co. at Bombay: studied at the Grant Medical College: in Government service until 1860: took up private practice at Bombay: made a large fortune, which he spent chiefly in charity: became J.P., Town Councillor: Member of the Municipal Corporation: was connected with civil administration for 30 years: twice President of the Municipal body: carried schemes for abundant water-supply from Vihar and Tansa lakes: twice Sheriff of Bombay: for many years Chairman of joint Government and Municipal Committee for education: Coroner of Bombay, 1876–93: C.I.E.: a fine statue of him erected in Bombay by his fellow citizens: died there April 1, 1903: Member of the Royal Asiatic Society, Bombay, and a frequent contributor to the columns of the Bombay Gazette.
BLANFORD, HENRY FRANCIS (1834–1893)
Son of W. Blanford: born June 3, 1834: educated at Brighton, Brussels, and the Royal School of Mines: entered the Geological Survey of India in 1855: transferred to the Education Department in Bengal, 1862; Professor at the Presidency College, 1872: became Meteorological Reporter,first to the Government of Bengal and later to the Government of India: Hony. Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1863–8: F.G.S. 1862: F.R.S. 1880: retired in 1880: died Jan. 23, 1893. The excellence of his work in geology and meteorology, as displayed in his official duties, and his contributions to scientific publications, is acknowledged.
BLANFORD, WILLIAM THOMAS (1832–1905)
Born Oct. 7, 1832: son of William, Blanford: educated at the Royal School' of Mines (Scholar,) and Mining Academy, Freiburg: in the Geological Survey of India, 1855–82: Geologist of the Abyssinian Expedition up to Magdala, 1868: on the Persian Boundary Commission, 1872: President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1878–9: of the Geological Society, 1888–90: received its Wollaston medal, 1883: Treasurer of the Society: Vice-President of the Royal Society, 1892–3, 1901–3: published works on the Geology and Zoology of Abyssinia and Persia; a manual of Geology on India, 1879: President of the Geological section of the British Association meeting in Canada, 1884: edited The Fauna of British India: was author of the Mammalia, 1888–91, and of the Birds, 1895, 1898: C.I.E., 1904: LL.D. Montreal, and F.R.S., 1874: on its Council and Vice-President: died June 23. 1905.
