1892 : held a number of minor honorary offices : died March 20, 1903.
DEB, SIR RADHA KANTA, RAJA BAHADUR (1784–1867)
Born in Calcutta, March II, 1784, son of RajaGopi Mohan Deb, and great grandson of Munshi, afterwards Maharaja, Naba Krishna Deb, Persian Secretary and Diwan to Lord Clive : received his English education at Cumming's Calcutta Academy : studied Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian : his life was devoted to cultivating and disseminating knowledge : was the first modern Hindu to advocate home female education, zealously established native schools, and compiled in 36 years a comprehensive Sanskrit dictionary, which was acknowledged by learned European Societies, and by Queen Victoria with a medal. In religion he was rigidly conservative and strictly orthodox, while devoted to the cause of education : wrote a Bengali reader. He was a Director of the Hindu College : Secretary of the School-book Society, established in 1818: prominently connected with the Government Sanskrit College, and the Bengal Asiatic Society : Honorary Magistrate and Justice of the Peace for Calcutta in 1855 : President of the British Indian Association from 1851 until his death at Brindaban on April 19, 1867 : Raja Bahadur on July 10, 1837, and K.C.S.I. in 1866 : was an active supporter of all public movements.
DE BOIGNE, BENOIT, COUNT (1751–1830)
A Savoyard : born at Chambery on March 8, 1751 : entered the French Army at 17 : left it in 5 years for the Russian service, and was taken prisoner at Tenedos. Being released, he, travelling via Alexandria, Cairo, and Suez, joined the 6th Madras N.I. in the E.I. Co.'s service in 1778, at Madras. Fancying himself neglected, he resigned, and, abandoning his intention of making a journey overland to Europe, joined Madhava Rao Sindia, who made great use of him to train his troops and loaded him with wealth. He left Sindia in 1789, and entered into trade, but rejoined Sindia in 1790 with greater powers, and on higher terms : won for him the battles of Patau, June 20, 1790, and Merta in Sep. 1790, defeating mixed forces of Pathans, Rajputs, Moguls, etc. He became C. in C. of Sindia' s army, and, during Sindia's absence in the Dekkan, defeated Holkar at Lakhairi in Sep. 1793. On Sindia's death, in 1794, De Boigne continued to serve his successor, Daulat Rao Sindia. He resigned his command in Dec. 1795, on account of ill-health. He had a house at Ahghar from 1783 until he left India in Sep. 1796. He lived at first near London, and then went to Paris. It was alleged that he advised and assisted Napoleon Bonaparte in his designs against the Enghsh in India. This has been completely contradicted by his grandson : De Boigne during his career in India maintained friendly relations with the E. I. Co. In 1803, he settled at Buisson, at Chambery, applying his wealth to benevolent and patriotic purposes, to which he gave 3,678,000 francs. Honours were heaped upon him : he was held in the greatest respect. He died June 21, 1830, leaving 20 millions of francs.
DE BRATH ERNEST, (1858–)
Born Dec. 12, 1858 : son of Felix de Brath : educated privately : joined the Buffs, 1876, and the Indian Staff Corps, 1879 : served in the Afghan war, 1879–80 : Mahsud-Waziri expedition, 1881 : Hazara expedition, 1891; Dongola expedition, 1896, as Brig-Major at Suakin : Brevet-Lt-Colonel : Colonel, 1899 : in the Military Secretariat since 1892 : Secretary Military Department, Government of India, since 1902 : C.I.E. in 1903 : Maj-General: C.B.
DELAFOSSE, HENRY GEORGE (1835–1905)
Son of Major Henry Delafosse, C.B. : born 1835 : educated at Addiscombe : entered the Army, 1854, and became a Maj-General, 1887 : served in Indian mutiny : was at Cawnpur, as Lieutenant in the 53rd N.I. : and served with the Artillery in the siege there : on June 22, 1857, showed great bravery in extinguishing the flames of a burning ammunition wagon, which was under severe fire : and was one of the four men who escaped in a boat from the massacre of Europeans at the Sati Chaura Ghat on June 27, 1857 : in Havelock's relief of Lucknow, and the retaking of Cawnpur : in the Sikhim expedition, 1861 : in the Umbeyla campaign, 1863 : C.B., 1887 : retired, 1887 : died Feb. 10, 1905.
