MINOCHER-HOMJI, MANECKJI BARJORJI (1840–1898)
Indian journalist and novelist : born July 30, 1840 : educated at the Elphinstone Institution, Bombay : served in the Military Board office : editor of the Dost-i-Hind, 1861 : and the Suryodaya, 1864–6 : editor and part-proprietor of the Bombay Samachar, 1866, with which he was connected intimately till his death, raising it to a leading position among native papers in W. India : its sole proprietor from 1871 : brought out the Loke-mitra, or "People's Friend," 1868 : a great humorist, he conducted a comic weekly the Daterdoo (the Scythe) 1874–90, in which he published his novel of Parsi social life, 1878–87, until he closed this paper. He wrote much on the foreign policy and relations of England and India, and the European position of the rulers of India : published 12 vols., 1879, of the ancient Persian legends of Iran, which he called Burjornama : cultivated Ind'an music scientifically, and published a collection of Indian odes : was a member of the Indian Philharmonic Society : made a great reputation among Indian journalists : his editorship of the Samachar being formally acknowledged by Government : made J. P. in 1885 : died 1898.
MINTO, SIR GILBERT ELLIOT, FIRST EARL OF (1751–1814)
Governor-General : son of Sir Gilbert Elliot, Bart. : born April 23, 1751 : educated privately, at the Pension Militaire, Fontainebleau; Edinburgh, and at Christ Church, Oxford : called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn, 1774 : M.P. for Morpeth, 1776–84 : for Berwick, 1786–90 : schoolfollow of Mirabeau and friend of Burke : in 1787–8 he at first carried a motion in Parliament, condemning the conduct of Sir Elijah Impey at Calcutta, chiefly about the trial of Nuncomar (q.v.) : but the motion was afterwards lost : he tried, but failed, to become the Speaker of the House of Commons : M.P. for Helston, 1790 : D.C.L. Oxford, 1793 : in 1794–6 he was Governor of the Protectorate of Corsica : returned to England in 1798, and was made Baron Minto : Envoy and Minister-Plenipotentiary at Vienna, 1799 : F.R.S. London and Edinburgh, 1803 : President of the Board of Control, 1806, and Governor-General of India, July, 1807, to Oct. 1813 : reformed the finances of India, despatched Missions to Kabul, Lahore and Persia, to make alliances, with the object of defence against French invasion : made a treaty with Sind : he annexed Amboyna, 1810; the Molucca Islands, the Isle of Bourbon, the Mauritius, and went himself on the expedition under the military command of Sir S. Auchmuty to Java in 1811. He endeavoured to introduce reforms into the native government of Oudh, and paid much attention to the internal administration of India generally, in respect of the press, religious toleration, education, the suppression of local disturbances : he was created Earl of Minto and Viscount Melgund, 1813 : he embarked for England in Dec. 1813 : arrived there in May 1814 : died June 21, 1814, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
MINTO, GILBERT JOHN MURRAY KYNYNMOND ELLIOT, FOURTH EARL OF (1845–)
Viceroy and Governor-General : born July 9, 1845 : son of third Earl : educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge; B.A : in the Scots Guards, 1867–70 : was in Paris during the Communist outbreak, 1871 : correspondent, three years later, for the Morning Post, with the Carlist Army in Biscay and Navarre : served with the Turkish Army in the Russo-Turkish war, 1877 : at the bombardment of Nikopolis, and the crossing of the Danube : with Lord Roberts in the Afghan war, 1878–9 : was nearly accompanying Cavagnari (q.v.) to Kabul, 1879 : Private Secretary to Lord Roberts on his mission to the Cape, 1881 : was a volunteer, as Captain in the Mounted Infantry in Egypt, 1882 : wounded, and rejoined : Military Secretary to the Marquis of Lansdowne, when Governor-General of Canada, 1883–5 : Chief of the Staff to General Middleton in quelling the Riel rebellion in N.W. Canada, 1885 : candidate for Hexham, 1886 : succeeded to the title, 1891 : Governor-General of Canada, 1898–1904 : received there T.R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales : appointed Viceroy and Governor-General of India, August, 1905 : G.C.M.G., 1898 : P.C, J.P. : Hony. LL.D. Toronto.
