Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/170

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appeared, which for many grounds have been attributed to Francis. Their identity, first suggested by Taylor in 1813, 1816, may be considered to have been established. After the passing of the Regulating Act of 1773 for India, Francis was appointed a member of the new Supreme Council in India. He and his colleagues, Clavering and Monson, arrived at Calcutta on Oct. 19, 1774 : these three opposed Warren Hastings, the Governor-General, and Harwell (q.v.), the remaining Member of the Supreme Council : being a majority, they had great power. Francis took the side of Nuncomar (q.v.), after the latter had accused Hastings of corruption. Nuncomar was hanged for forgery on Aug. 5, 1775. The death of Monson, on Sep. 25, 1776, gave Hastings the casting vote. Barwell left India in March, 1780 : Francis resumed his opposition to Hastings, who wrote a minute accusing Francis of faithlessness and breach of trust and honour. Francis challenged him, and a duel took place on Aug. 17, 1780, in which Francis was badly wounded. He left India in Dec. 1780. In 1778 Francis was defendant in a crim. con. charge brought against him by G. F. Grand of the Indian Civil Service. Francis was sentenced by Impey to pay 50,000 rupees damages. He retired with a large fortune, but was very coldly received in England, except at Court. He became M.P. for Yarmouth, 1784 : assisted Burke in preparing the charges against Hastings, but was not accepted as a manager of the impeachment. M.P. for Bletchingley, 1790; for Appleby, 1802 : K.C.B. in Oct. 1806 : made an elaborate speech on India in April, 1805 : he hoped to be Governor-General of India, but failed to obtain it from Fox, with whom he quarrelled : he died Dec. 22, 1818. It is said that he made many anonymous contributions to the Press : his capacity, industry, courage, and certain good principles in his character have to be set against his malignity, vindictiveness, and unscrupulous conduct : his life and career have been minutely investigated.

FRANCKLIN, WILLIAM (1763–1839)

Son of Thomas Francklin : born 1763 : educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge : entered the E.I. Co.'s Bengal N.I., 1783 : Lt-Colonel, 1814 : regulating oiBcer, Bhagalpur, 1815 : retired in India, 1825 : travelled in Persia in 1786 : published his journal : wrote The History of the Reign of Shah-Aulam, the present Emperor of Hindustan, 1798 : Inquiry concerning the Site of the Ancient Palibothra, 1815–22 : besides translations, literary papers, contributions to Asiatic Researches, etc. : Member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and Member of Council and Librarian of the Royal Asiatic Society: died in India, April 12, 1839.

FRANKLIN, SIR BENJAMIN (1844–)

Educated at University College, London, and Paris : entered the Indian Medical Service, 1869 : Civil Surgeon, Simla, 1881–6 : Inspr-General of Hospitals, N.W.P., 1899 : and Panjab, 1900–1 : Director-General, Indian Medical Service : C.I.E., 1898 : K.C.I. E., 1903.

FRANKS, SIR JOHN (1770–1852)

Son of Thomas Franks : born in 1770 : took his degree at Trinity College, Dublin : called to the Irish bar, 1792 : appointed in 1825 a Judge of the Supreme Court, Calcutta, and knighted : retired for his health in 1834 : died Jan. 11, 1852.

FRANKS, SIR THOMAS HARTE (1808–1862)

Son of William Franks : born 1808 : entered the loth regt. in 1825 : Lt-Colonel, 1845 : to India in 1842 : in the first Sikh war, 1845–6 : was at Sobraon, wounded : C.B, : in the Panjab campaign of 1848–9, was at the siege of Multan, Surajkund, and at Gujarat : Colonel, 1854 : commanded the Jalandhar Brigade, 1855 : in the mutiny, as Brig-General, marched across the frontier of Oudh, and joined with Jang Bahadur of Nipal : defeated the rebels, Banda Husain, at Chanda, and Mehndi Husain Nazim at Hamirpur in Feb. 1858, but failed to take Daurara fort : joined Sir Colin Campbell at the capture of Lucknow, March, 1858 : Maj-General and K.C.B. , 1858 : returned to England : died Feb. 5, 1862.

FRASER, ALEXANDER (1824–1898)

General : son of James Eraser : educated at Addiscombe : entered the Indian