Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/162

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of Oudh, the Rana of Gohud, and commanded a regt. under Madhava Rao Sindia (q.v.) : in 1707. Nana Farnavis, when on a visit to Daulat Rao Sindia, was taken prisoner : whether by Filose's treachery or not, has been disputed : he decamped to Bombay, set out for Europe, and died.

FIRMINGER, REV. THOMAS AUGUSTUS (1812–1884)

Born in London in 1812 : son of Dr. Thomas Firminger, who prepared candidates for Haileybury : educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge : took his degree, 1837 : appointed Chaplain of the E.I. Co., 1846 : served at Sagar, at Firozpur, during the second Sikh war : toured in India from 1854, made many drawings : had two pictures in the Royal Academy : Chaplain at Howrah, 1857 : and at Chinsura, 1859 : published his Manual of Gardening for India, 1863 : in the Bhutan expedition, 1864–5 : retired, 1868 : died Jan. 18, 1884.

FIROZ SHAH ( ? - ? )

Son of Mirza Nazim (who was grandson of Shah Alam) and of Abadi Begam, cousin of Akbar Shah, King of Delhi : educated by Mirza Illahibaksh, who married his mother : went to Mecca with her in 1855 : returned to Bombay after the mutiny broke out : became leader of the rebels at Mandiswar : driven from there by Colonel (Sir H. M.) Durand in Nov. 1857 : went to Rohilkund with his force : beaten thence by Sir Colin Campbell : entered Oudh : tried to join Tantia Topi in Central India : defeated by General (Lord) Napier at Ranod, Dec. 17, 1858 : fled, and joined Tantia Topi : the rebels were broken up and dispersed : Firoz Shah hid in the Sironj jungles : he escaped in disguise as a pilgrim to Karbela and lived there many years : was one of the leading and irreconcilable insurgents in the mutiny.

FIRUZ MULLA BIN KAWOOS (1758–1830)

Native of Broach, born 1758 : son of Mulla Kawoos, a priest of the Parsis of Bombay : when 10 years old, accompanied his father on a journey to Persia; they carried with them letters from the Indian Zoroastrians for the solving of religious questions : on their return, after an absence of twelve years, they settled at Bombay : Firuz Mulla, himself a Parsi priest, of the Kadmi sect from 1794, and great student of Oriental language, was induced by Jonathan Duncan (q.v.) to write the Persian poem George Nama, a history of India from its discovery by the Portuguese and of the English in India to 1819 : this was an epic poem, called after George III., and dedicated to Queen Victoria : he was a great collector of Persian and Arabic MSS. : pubUshed in 1818, the Desatir, a very ancient religious Persian work : assisted the foundation of the Bombay Samachar in 1822, and wrote largely in it : led a retired and ascetic life, devoted to his studies : much sought by scholars, English and Asiatic, and held in the highest respect; he wrote also on the advantages of vaccination : on his death, on Oct. 8, 1830, his collection was left as a gift in the charge of the Elders of the Kadmi Zoroastrians : it now forms the Mulla Firuz Library in Bombay : the Madrasa bearing his name was founded in 1854, for the instruction of Zoroastrians in their sacred lore.

FISHER, THOMAS (1772–1836)

Son of Thomas Fisher : entered the E. India House, 1786, as a clerk : searcher of records there, 1816–34 : died July 20, 1836 : had considerable talent for drawing, and was a distinguished antiquary : made drawings of monumental remains, antiquities and collections : was F.S.A. of Perth and London : for nearly 50 years contributed to the Gentleman's Magazine, writing for it long biographical memoirs of eminent men who had distinguished themselves in India : also wrote for the Asiatic Journal, the Congregational Magazine : worked in the cause of anti-slavery, and was a Director of the London Missionary Society, in which his knowledge of the East was valuable : died 1836.

FITZ CLARENCE, LORD FREDERICK (1799–1854)

Born Dec. 9, 1799 : son of William IV and Mrs. Jordan : entered the Army, 1814 : given the rank of a son of a Marquess, 1831 : G.C.H., 1831 : Military Governor of Portsmouth, 1840 : Lt-General, 1851 : Colonel of 36th regt., 1851 : C. in C, Bombay, Nov. 1852 : died Oct. 30, 1854.