Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/38

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DICTIONARY OF INDIAN BIOGRAPHY

including the Nestorians, in Kurdistan, 1842–5 and 1850: appointed a Chaplain under the Bombay Government, 1845: his knowledge of Arabic was utilised at Aden and under Outram in the Persian expedition of 1856–7: in 1860 he helped to settle the troubles in Oman: was Secretary to Sir Bartle Frere's mission to Zanzibar, 1872: D.C.L. in 1873: died Feb. 21, 1888: wrote The Nestorians and their Rituals, A History of the Imaums and Sayyids of Oman, 1871: on Muhammad and Muhammadanism: and an English-Arabic Lexicon, besides other works: F.Z.S.: F.S.A.

BAIGRIE, ROBERT ( ? –1877)

Colonel: son of John Baigrie: joined the E. I. Co.'s Bombay Infantry, 1848: served in the Panjab campaign, 1848–9: at Multan, Gujarat, the pursuit and surrender of the Sikhs, the occupation of Peshawar: at the siege of Sebastopol, 1855: in the Persian war, 1856–7: at the Khushab, Muhamra, Ahwaz: in Sir H. Rose's force in the mutiny: Bombay Staff Corps, 1861: A.Q.M.G. at Mhow, 1865: and in Abyssinia, 1867–8: Brevet Lt-Colonel: Q.M.G. of the Bombay Army: C.B., 1873: died at Poona, Sep. 25, 1877: an accomplished artist.

BAILEY, REV. BENJAMIN (1791–1871)

Missionary for 40 years in Travancore: distinguished as a linguist and botanist, and author of a Malayalam dictionary: died, 1871.

BAILLIE, JOHN (1772–1833)

Lt-Colonel: younger son of George Baillie, of Leys Castle, Inverness: entered the service of the E.I. Co. in 1791: took part in the military operations of the Mahratta war, 1803: but his principal services in India were political: as Political Agent, 1803–7, he succeeded, under great difficulties, in establishing British authority in Bundelkund, and in transferring to the Company a large and valuable territory: for his services, he was appointed Resident at Lucknow, 1807–15, he established the celebrated "Guard" or "Gate," which still bears his name at Lucknow: after leaving India, he was appointed, 1823, a Director: of the E.I.Co.: M.P. for Hendon in 1820: and in 1830 for the Burghs of Inverness, in which town is his portrait by Raeburn: died in London, April 20, 1833. From the commencement of his career, Baillie was a devoted student of Oriental languages, and was the first Professor of Arabic and Persian, when the College of Fort William was instituted in 1801: published several important works, and made a large and choice collection of oriental works, at his house in Inverness, which was presented by his heirs to the University of Edinburgh. A Digest of Mohummudan Law, which he left unfinished, was completed and greatly enlarged by his son, Neil B. E. Baille, (1799–1883), an Indian Jurist of some eminence: it is still a standard work of reference.

BAILLIE, WILLIAM ( ? –1782)

Entered the E.I.Co.'s service in the Madras N. I., 1759: Lt-Colonel, 1775: served against Hyder Ali, 1767–8: held a command at Pondicherry, 1779, against the French: and in the Guntur Sircars in 1780: defeated, in 1780, a portion of Hyder All's invading army under Tippoo near Perambakam: was unable to join Sir Hector Munro's army, but, on receipt of small reinforcements, advanced from Polilore to do so: was attacked by Hyder's force and overwhelmed, Sep. 10, 1780: severely wounded and captured: with the few survivors was kept prisoner at Seringapatam, generally in chains: died in captivity, Nov. 13, 1782.

BAIRD, SIR DAVID, BARONET (1757–1829)

General: son of William Baird, of Newbyth: born Dec, 1757: entered the Army in the 2nd foot, in 1772: came to England from Gibraltar in 1776: went to India in the 73rd in 1779–80: was in Colonel Baillie's force which was overwhelmed by Hyder Ali at Perambakam, Sep. 10, 1780: was imprisoned by Hyder Ali at Seringapatam for 3½ years, and released at the Treaty of Mangalore in 1784. His mother, knowing his intractable temper, remarked, on hearing of his imprisonment, that "she pitied the man who was chained to our Davie." He commanded a Brigade, and served under Lord Cornwallis at the capture of Savandrug in 1791, and at Seringapatam in 1792: in 1793 he took Pondicherry: commanded a Brigade at the Cape of Good Hope in 1797, and, returning