Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/40

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DICTIONARY OF INDIAN BIOGRAPHY

as Surgeon-General, Madras, 1871–76, paid much attention to female medical education, for which the Madras Medical College was thrown open: Fellow of the Madras University: retired in 1876, and died Dec. 8, 1889.

BALFOUR, FRANCIS (before 1769–after 1807)

M.D. at Edinburgh: entered the E.I.Co.'s medical service in Bengal, 1769: and retired, 1807, to Edinburgh: was an intimate friend of Warren Hastings, dedicated a book to him, and corresponded with him from Benares: he wrote The Forms of Herkern, a Persian Letter-writer and contributed papers on Oriental subjects to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, besides writing medical works.

BALFOUR, SIR GEORGE (1809–1894)

Born 1809: son of Capt. George Balfour: brother of E. G. Balfour (q.v.): educated at Eddiscombe: joined the Madras Artillery, 1825, the Royal Artillery, 1826: served in the Malacca campaign, 1832–33: in China with the Madras force, 1840–2: and was Colonel at Shanghai from 1843 for some years: on the Madras Military Board 1849–57, and Inspr-General of Ordnance: C.B., 1854: on the Military Finance Commission of 1859–60, and Head of the Military Finance Department, 1860–62, doing valuable work in these appointments: in England, employed on the Recruiting Commission, 1866 and 1868–70: as Assistant to the Controller in Chief at the War Office, 1868–71: K.C.B., 1871: M.P. Kincardineshire, 1872–1892: became a General in 1877: died, March 12, 1894: his wife was a daughter of Joseph Hume, M.P.

BALL, GEORGE (1761–1811)

Colonel: served in Lord Lake's campaign, and described as a very meritorious and distinguished officer: died when Adjutant-General of the Bengal Army, Dec. 8, 1811: buried at Calcutta.

BALL, VALENTINE ( ? –1895)

Doctor: in the Geological Survey of India for 17 years: Treasurer of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1881: contributed papers on the Geology of the Nicobar Islands and of the vicinity of Port Blair: Professor of Geology at Dublin: F.R.S.: Director of the National Museum, Dublin, 1883: died June 15, 1895: wrote valuable works on geology and jungle life in India: edited, in 1889, J. B. Tavernier's Travels in India, 1676: C.B.

BALLANTYNE, JAMES ROBERT (1813–1864)

Born Dec. 13, 1813: educated at Kelso, Edinburgh New Academy and College: studied Oriental languages: taught them at the Naval and Military Academy, Edinburgh, 1839: in India was Principal of the College at Benares, 1845–61: became Librarian of the India Office: while in India studied the highest Sanskrit ethical and philosophical literature: published Sanskrit works and lectures on systems of Indian philosophy, also papers on Hindu philosophy and logic: wrote a Hindustani grammar and selections: and a Mahratti grammar: LL.D.: died Feb. 16, 1864.

BALLARD, JOHN ARCHIBALD (1830–1880)

Born June 20, 1830: son of a Calcutta merchant: educated at Addiscombe: joined the Bombay Engineers in 1850: on his way to England in 1854, he went to Constantinople, and joined the Turkish Army, as Lt-Colonel, at the siege of Silistria by the Russians, and in the attack on the Russians at Giurgevo: in the Crimean campaign, including the siege of Sebastopol, the operations at Eupatoria and the occupation of Kertch: he also commanded a Turkish Brigade in Omar Pasha's campaign in Mingrelia: was conspicuous for his cool bravery in action: C.B., 1856: served as A.Q.M.G. in the Persian war of 1856–7, and in the same capacity in the Indian mutiny in the Rajputana Field Force: was Mint-master at Bombay, 1861, and Chairman of the Bombay Port Trust: retired at end of 1878 as Lt-General: wrote articles for Blackwood's Magazine, on Indian subjects: LL.D. of Edinburgh: he died near the battlefield of Thermopylae April 2, 1880.

BALRAMPUR, MAHARAJA, SIR DRIGBIJAI SINGH, of (1818–1882)

Son of Raja Arjun Singh: descendant of a long line of chieftains of the Janwar clan of Rajputs: succeeded his brother Raja Jai Narain Singh, in 1836: spent his early years fighting with his neighbours,