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DICTIONARY OF INDIAN BIOGRAPHY

CHAMBERS, SIR CHARLES HARCOURT (1789–1828)

Born Aug. 31, 1789 : nephew of Sir Robert Chambers, (1737–1803), C.J. Bengal (1789–99): educated at Cambridge, Fellow of Trinity College : B.A., 1809 : M.A., 1814 : practised at the bar at the Mayor's Court, Chester, and elsewhere : in 1823 appointed a Puisne Judge of the new Supreme Court, Bombay, opened May 8, 1824 : knighted by Geo. III : the Supreme Court, while he was judge, passed severe strictures on the arbitrary proceedings of the executive officers of the E. I. Co., including the magistracy and the police : the Civil Government defied the Court's authority and instructed the Company's officers not to assist the Court's officials : the Court refused to register a stringent Regulation of the Bombay Government against the liberty of the Press : on the death of the Chief Justice, Sir E. West, on Aug. 13, 1828, Chambers acted as C.J., and continued opposing the Government : Lord Ellenborough, as President of the Board of Control, supported the Executive : Chambers, still in opposition, died Oct. 13, 1828, leaving Sir "Grant, Sir John Peter," in Dictionary of Indian Biography, by C. E. Buckland, London: Swan Sonnenschein (1906) (q.v.) alone : buried in the Cathedral, Bombay : he wrote, in England, on legal subjects.

CHAMBERS, SIR ROBERT (1737–1803)

Son of Robert Chambers, of Newcastle : born 1737 educated there and at Lincoln College, Oxford (Exhibitioner) : Fellow of University College, 1761; M.A., 1761; B.C.L., 1765; Vinerian Professor of Law, 1762–77 : Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford, in 1766. In 1744 he joined the Calcutta Supreme Court as second Judge, Sir Elijah Impey being Chief : knighted in 1778 : lived for several years in a garden-house, at Bhawanipur : he became Chief Justice in 1791 : retired in 1799 : declined a peerage : died in Paris, May 9, 1803 : a monument by Nollekens is in the Temple Church, where he was buried. He was a friend of Dr. Johnson from 1766, and of Sir Philip Francis in Calcutta. He was one of the Judges on the trial of Nuncomar for forgery, when the latter was convicted, and hanged on Aug. 5, 1775. Chambers left some legal writings, and a collection of Sanskrit MSS.

CHAMIER, FRANCIS EDWARD ARCHIBALD (1833–)

Maj-General : son of Henry Chamber of the Madras Civil Service : born May 13, 1833 : educated at Cheltenham : joined the Indian Army : Adjutant of the Calcutta Volunteers, 1857 : Persian Interpreter to Sir James Outram in first relief, defence, siege and capture of Lucknow : commanded the Raja of Kapurthala's troops in the Oudh campaign, 1858 : C.I.E.

CHAMIER, HENRY (1795–1867)

I.C.S. : educated at Haileybury, 1811–12 : went out to Madras, 1813 : entered the Secretariat, 1827 : became Chief Secretary, 1837–42 : Member of Council, Madras, Jan. 1843– Jan. 1848 : when he retired : died Feb. 4, 1867.

CHAMIER, JOHN ( ? - ? )

I.C.S. : appointed a writer, 1772 : Factor, 1778 : Junior Merchant, 1780 : absent in England for 7 years : Senior Merchant, 1787 : Secretary, 1790, in the Military, Political, and Secret Departments, and Judge Advocate General : "Chief" of Vizagapatam, for 6 years : Chief Secretary to Madras Government, 1801 : Provisional Member of Council, Madras, 1802 : confirmed as Member, 1803 : resigned, 1805 : returned to England.

CHAMIER, STEPHEN (1834–)

Born Aug. 17, 1834 : son of Henry Chamber of the Madras Civil Service : educated at Cheltenham and Addiscombe : entered the Madras Artillery, 1853 : transferred to Royal Artillery, 1861 : commanded mountain battery in Burma against the Karens, 1856 : served in the Indian mutiny, 1857–8, and was present at Cawnpur under Sir Charles Windham, at the siege of Lucknow under Sir Colin Campbell, and in the Oudh campaign : Brevet-Major, and C.B. : Inspr-General of Ordnance, Madras, 1881–6 : Lt-General, R.A.

CHAMPION, ALEXANDER ( ? – ? )

Second in command to (Sir Hector) Munro, 1764, when opposed to Shuja-ud-daula : in the battle of Baxar, Oct. 23, 1764 : Colonel: succeeded Sir Robert Barker, as C. in C. of the Bengal Army, June 18, 1774, to Oct. 29, 1774 : com-