Dictionary of Indian Biography/Bowser, Sir Thomas
BOWSER, SIR THOMAS (1748–1833)
Born 1748, at Kirkby Thore, Westmorland: educated at Appleby Grammar School: entered the E.I. Co.'s Army at 24: at the taking of Tanjore in 1773: for 3 years engaged in the capture of forts in the N. Sircars: at the siege of Pondicherry, 1778: in the Guntur Sircar campaign, 1779: as a Lieutenant, in Sir Hector Munro's army in 1780, sent to help Col. Baillie and, with him, taken prisoner by Hyder Ali in the Perambakam disaster, Sept. 1780: confined at Seringapatam 3 years and 8 months: loaded with irons for 3 years and 4 months: liberated, 1784: to England for 3 years: published in 1788 his Memoirs of The Late War in Asia: served under Medows in 1792, at the storming of Dindigul: given by Cornwallis the command of a sepoy battalion: served under General Braithwaite at the siege of Pondicherry, 1798: employed against the Raja of Ramnad: effected the reduction of Ceylon, 1796: took fort Calpentein and Colombo: sent to reduce the French force under Perron at Hyderabad: at Seringapatam, May 4, 1790: stormed the fortress of Gooty: commanded from Hyderabad a mixed force, joining Colonel A. Wellesley, against Doondia Waugh: to England, 1803: again to India in 1820: commanded the Mysore Division: was temporarily C. in C. of Madras Army, 1824–6, on the death of Sir Alexander Campbell: retired. May, 1826: was a Lt-General and K.C.B.: died June, 1833.