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About The Book : In the enlightened period of the nineteenth century, when the world abounds In characters, as distinguished for their abilities, in every branch of scientific and useful knowledge, as eminent for their courage and other personal qualifications, it may afford matter for surprise, that an obscure individual should merit the attention of the community. Yet,when it is considered that the singularity of character, exhibited in the subject of the present memoirs, is rendered still more interesting by his adventures, his talents, his successes, and his misfortunes, detailed in the following sheets, it may not only form the best apology for the compiler in submitting these memoirs, to the public view, but also afford some useful instruction to the reader. From the best information we could procure, it appears that Mr. George Thomas first came to India in a British ship of war, in 1781-2. His situation in the fleet was humble, having served as a quarter matter, or, as Is affirmed by some. In the capacity of a common fail or Shortly after landing in the vicinity of Madras, the activity of his mind, overcoming the lowliness of his situation, he determined to quit the ship, and embrace a life more suitable to his ardent disposition.His first; service was among the Polygars to the southward, where he resided a few years. But at length setting out over-land, he spiritedly traversed the central part of the Peninsula, and about the year 1787 arrived at Delhi. Here he received a commission in the service of the Begum Sumroo. This lady is well known in the history of the transactions of modern times. Soon after his arrival at Delhi, the Begum, with her usual judgment and discrimination of character, advanced him to a command in her army. From this period his military career in the north-west of India may be said to have commenced. About The Author : William Francklin (1763–1839) was an English orientalist and army officer. Francklin was the eldest son of Thomas Francklin, by his wife Miss Venables. He was admitted on the foundation at Westminster in 1777, whence he was elected to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1781.Preferring to engage in the profession of arms, he was admitted a cadet in the service of the East India Company in 1782, appointed ensign of the 19th regiment of Bengal Native Infantry 31 Jan. 1783; lieutenant 20 Oct. 1789; captain in the army 7 June 1796; captain in his regiment 30 Sept. 1803; major in the army 25 April 1808; major in his regiment 29 March 1810; lieutenant-colonel in the army 4 June 1814, and in his regiment on 16 Dec. of the same year. On being invalided, 1 Oct. 1815, he was made regulating officer at Bhagalpur. He retired in India in December 1825, and died 12 April 1839, aged 76.