Military Memoirs of Mr. George Thomas: Who, by Extraordinary Talents and Enterprise, Rose from an Obscure Situation to the Rank of a General, in the Service of the Native Powers in the North-West of India [Hardcover]

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.