Page:Dictionary of Indian Biography.djvu/481

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

responding member of the Institute of France : President of the Hakluyt Society, 1877 : and of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1885 : died Dec. 30, 1889.

ZAMAN SHAH ABDALI (before 1793– after 1800)

Grandson of Ahmad Shah Abdali, or Durani, ruler of Afghanistan, who died 1773 : and son of Timur Shah, who died 1793. He reigned oppressively at Kabul, and reduced to poverty Payinda Khan, the Barakzai chief, to whom he owed his throne. He marched on Lahore, 1796, reduced the Sikhs, threatened to invade Hindustan, and invited Lord Wellesley to join with him in conquering the Mahrattas. The fear of an Afghan invasion was seriously regarded by Lord Wellesley, but came to nothing. Zaman Shah returned to Afghanistan, to establish his authority at Kandahar, and had the leading Barakzais massacred. He was dethroned by his brother Mahmud Mirza of Herat, assisted by Fateh Khan Barakzai, about 1800, and was blinded : Zaman Shah fled to Ludiana, and became a pensioner of the E. I. Co.

ZOFFANY, JOHN or JOHANN (1733–1810)

Artist : born in 1733, of a Bohemian family, at Ratisbon : after long residence in Italy came to England in 1758 : fell into great difficulties : worked as a clock-painter and assistant : came into notice as a portrait-painter, and painted dramatic scenes : Member of the Society of Artists, and of the Royal Academy, 1769 : spent some years in Italy and Vienna : member of Foreign Academies : went to India, 1783–90 : was at Calcutta and Lucknow : painted subjects combining incident and portraiture, "dramatic scenes and conversation pieces," such as "Colonel Mordaunt's Cock-match." "Tiger Hunt in the E. Indies." : "Embassy of Hyder Beck (sic) to Calcutta " : some of which were engraved by Richard Earlom, the celebrated mezzotinto engraver (1743–1822) : he also painted Sir Elijah Impey (q.v.), and "The Last Supper" for an altar-piece in St. John's Church in Calcutta (opened for service in June, 1787). He died in England, Nov. 11, 1810.