1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Petit, Sir Dinshaw Maneckji

PETIT, SIR DINSHAW MANECKJI, Bart. (1823–1901), Parsee philanthropist, was born on the 30th of June 1823. As broker to European firms he amassed a large fortune during the period of speculation in Bombay at the time of the American Civil War. In 1886 he became a member of the governor-general’s legislative council. He devoted his wealth to philanthropic objects, among the public and private charities which he endowed being the Towers of Silence and fire temples of the Parsees, a hospital for animals, a college for women, and the Petit hospital. He was knighted in 1887, created a baronet in 1890, and died in February 1901.