Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/443

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

Artillery under General Goddard at the capture of Bassein : in 1782 commanded the Bombay Artillery under General Matthews against Hyder : commanded at the capture of Onore, Jan. 6, 1783 : refused to abandon the fortress : sustained a siege by Tippoo's troops from May 14 to Aug. 25, 1783, when a cessation of arms took place : after a blockade of 7 months, Torriano received orders and surrendered it on March 28, 1784, on the ratification of the treaty of peace, to Tippoo : made a Brevet-Major : after retirement he commanded the Kensington Volunteer Corps during the European war.

TOWNSEND, MEREDITH (1831–)

Journalist : studied with the Oriental-1st, Professor E. B. Cowell ; at Ipswich Grammar School : in 1848 joined the Friend of India at Serampur, first as Sub-Editor under J. C. Marshman, C.S.I., afterwards as Editor for some years : was also Assistant Translator to Government and Indian Correspondent of the Times : he retired to England in 1860 and purchased and edited the Spectator, giving up the editorship about 1898 : wrote Asia and Europe. While in India, he was much consulted on public questions.

TOWNSHEND, CHARLES VERE FERRERS (1861–)

Cousin and heir of sixth Marquis Townshend : entered the Militia, 1881, and Indian Staff Corps, 1886 : became Lt-Colonel, 1896 : served in the Soudan expedition, 1884–5, Hunza-Nagar expedition, 1891–2 : commanded garrison of Chitral Fort during siege : Brevet-Major and C.B. : Dongola expedition : Brevet-Lt-Colonel : Omdurman, 1898 : D.S.O. : South Africa, 1899–1900.

TRAVANCORE, SIR RAMA VARMA MAHARAJA, OF (1837–1884)

Born May 19, 1837 : a member of the Royal family of Travancore, the succession to which is in the female line. At 12 years old he was placed under the tuition of (afterwards Sir) T. Madhava Row (q.v.), for a period of four years : an accomplished Sanskrit scholar : subsequently he educated himself and learnt English thoroughly. Among his earliest contributions to literature were The Horrors of War and the Benefits of Peace, written at the time of the Crimean War, followed by " A Political Sketch of Travancore," which appeared in the Madras Athenaeum. As an ardent student of the experimental sciences he also acquired fame. In 1857 Sir T. Madhava Row was appointed Diwan of Travancore. Rama Varma was at this time a constant contributor to the Indian Statesman, edited by Mr. J. B. Norton. In 1861 he visited Madras and was made a Fellow of the University. He travelled widely in India. In 1880 he succeeded to the throne of Travancore, by the death of his brother, and, with the assistance of his friend of 21 years' standing, Vembaukum Ramiyengar, whom he made Diwan, introduced valuable reforms in the administration : steadily set his face against bribery and corruption and recognized merit wherever found : took a special interest in education : made G.C.S.I. in 1882 : died Aug. 5, 1884.

TRAVERS, JAMES (1820–1884)

Son of Ma j -General Sir Robert Travers, C.B. : K.C.M.G. : born Oct. 10, 1820 : educated at Addiscombe : joined the Bengal Infantry, 1838 : was in the Afghan war, 1841, in several engagements : and under Nott near Kandahar in 1842 : at Ghazni : at Kabul : Brevet-Major, 1846 : in the Satlaj campaign, commanded Gurkhas at Sobraon : commanded the Bhopal Contingent : commanded, and in the retreat from Indore in the mutiny, defended the Residency, July, 1857 : saved the Europeans : gained the V.C. for bravery, charging the enemy's guns with only 5 men to support him, and drove off the gunners : Brevet-Lt-Colonel and Colonel : commanded the Central India Horse, 1860 : and the Meerut Division, 1869–73 : Lt-General, 1873: C.B., 1874 : retired. 1874: General, 1877 : died April 1. 1884 : wrote The Evacuation of Indore, 1876.

TREGEAR, VINCENT WILLIAM (1842–)

Born June 25, 1842 : son of Vincent Tregear, of the Indian Education Depart- ment : educated privately : entered Bengal Army, 1859 : commanded the 9th Bengal Infantry : Colonel on the Staff at Multan and in the Panjab, 1895–7 : served in the Afghan war, 1879–80 : Lushai expedition, 1889, in command of the