William Linnæus Gardner
Encyclopedia
William Linnæus Gardner (1771–1835), was an India
n officer.
Gardner was eldest son of Major Valentine Gardner, 16th Foot. The father was elder brother of Alan, first lord Gardner [q. v.], and was with the 16th foot during its service in America from 1767 to 1782. Gardner's mother was his father's first wife, Alicia, third daughter of Colonel Livingstone of Livingstone Manor, New York
. He was brought up in France
, and when a boy was gazetted ensign in the old 89th foot, 7 March 1783, and placed on half-pay of the regiment on its disbandment some weeks later. He was brought on full-pay as ensign in the 74th highlanders
in India, 6 March 1789, and promoted to a lieutenancy in the 52nd Foot in India in October the same year. The regimental muster-rolls, which are incomplete, show him on the strength of the depôt-company at home in 1791–3. He became captain 30th foot in 1794, and at once exchanged to half-pay of a disbanded independent company. Of the circumstances under which he retired various stories were told. All that is known is that he appeared afterwards as a military adventurer in the chaotic field of central Indian discord. For some time he was in the service of Jeswunt Rao Holkar, the famous Mahratta
ruler of Indore
. Holkar sent him on a mission to the independent princes of Cambay, where he married his only wife, a native princess, on whose ancestors the emperors of Delhi
, in days gone by, had conferred the highest hereditary honours. Holkar afterwards sent Gardner to treat with Lord Lake, and, suspecting treachery, grossly insulted him on his return. Gardner replied by attempting to cut down the maharajah. Failing, he escaped in the confusion, and went through a succession of the wildest adventures. At one time, when a prisoner of Emurt Rao, he was strapped to a gun under threat of death unless he promised to fight against the English. At another he jumped down a precipice fifty feet deep into a stream to escape his guards. Eventually he made his way into Lake's camp in the guise of a grass-cutter (1804). His wife and her attendants were allowed to depart unmolested from Holkar's camp through her family influence. Gardner served as a leader of irregular horse (captain) under Lake, and in the same capacity (lieutenant-colonel) performed important services under Sir David Ochterlony in Kamaun in 1814–15. In the latter connection Gardner (whose name, like that of his father, is spelt ‘Gardiner’ in many army lists) has been confounded by some writers with the first British resident in Nepaul, the Hon. Edward Gardiner, Bengal civil service (for whom see Debrett, Peerage, 1825, under ‘Blessington,’ and Dodwell and , Lists of Bengal Civil Servants). He also rendered valuable service under Ochterlony in the settlement of Rajpootana in 1817–18. He was rewarded in 1822 with an unattached majority in the king's service antedated to 25 Sept. 1803.
The name of William Linnæus Gardner first appears in the East India Company
army lists in January 1819, as a local lieutenant-colonel commanding a corps of [irregular cavalry]], afterwards described as Gardner's corps, as Gardner's local horse, and as the 2nd local horse, with which he was stationed at Khassgunge in 1819, at Saugor in 1821, at Bareilly
in 1821–3, in Arracan in 1825, and at Khassgunge again in 1826–7. In January 1828, when the 2nd local horse was again at Bareilly, Gardner is described as on leave, and his name does not again appear in either the British or Indian army list. No further record of him exists at the India Office. He resided at Khassgunge, now the chief town of the Etah district
, North West Provinces, which was his private property (Hunter, Gazetteer of India, under ‘Kásganj’), and there died on 29 July 1835, aged 65. His begum died a month after him (Parkes, vol. i.)
Gardner, a skilled rider and swordsman in his prime, is described in his latter years as a tall, soldierlike old man, of very courteous and dignified manners, and very kind to his ailing wife.
Gardner's or the 2nd local horse became the 2nd irregular cavalry, and since the Bengal mutiny, during which it was conspicuous by its loyalty, has become the 2nd Bengal cavalry.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n officer.
Gardner was eldest son of Major Valentine Gardner, 16th Foot. The father was elder brother of Alan, first lord Gardner [q. v.], and was with the 16th foot during its service in America from 1767 to 1782. Gardner's mother was his father's first wife, Alicia, third daughter of Colonel Livingstone of Livingstone Manor, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was brought up in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and when a boy was gazetted ensign in the old 89th foot, 7 March 1783, and placed on half-pay of the regiment on its disbandment some weeks later. He was brought on full-pay as ensign in the 74th highlanders
74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot
The 74th Regiment of Foot was a British Army line infantry regiment. During the Childers Reforms it was united with the 71st Regiment of Foot to form the Highland Light Infantry.-Service history:...
in India, 6 March 1789, and promoted to a lieutenancy in the 52nd Foot in India in October the same year. The regimental muster-rolls, which are incomplete, show him on the strength of the depôt-company at home in 1791–3. He became captain 30th foot in 1794, and at once exchanged to half-pay of a disbanded independent company. Of the circumstances under which he retired various stories were told. All that is known is that he appeared afterwards as a military adventurer in the chaotic field of central Indian discord. For some time he was in the service of Jeswunt Rao Holkar, the famous Mahratta
Mahratta
Mahratta may refer to* the Maratha caste, a ruling class of the Indian subcontinent* the Maratha EmpireShips*SS Mahratta , lost in a collision with SS Victoria in 1887 in the River Hoogly.* SS Mahratta , lost on the Goodwin Sands in 1909....
ruler of Indore
Indore
Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...
. Holkar sent him on a mission to the independent princes of Cambay, where he married his only wife, a native princess, on whose ancestors the emperors of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
, in days gone by, had conferred the highest hereditary honours. Holkar afterwards sent Gardner to treat with Lord Lake, and, suspecting treachery, grossly insulted him on his return. Gardner replied by attempting to cut down the maharajah. Failing, he escaped in the confusion, and went through a succession of the wildest adventures. At one time, when a prisoner of Emurt Rao, he was strapped to a gun under threat of death unless he promised to fight against the English. At another he jumped down a precipice fifty feet deep into a stream to escape his guards. Eventually he made his way into Lake's camp in the guise of a grass-cutter (1804). His wife and her attendants were allowed to depart unmolested from Holkar's camp through her family influence. Gardner served as a leader of irregular horse (captain) under Lake, and in the same capacity (lieutenant-colonel) performed important services under Sir David Ochterlony in Kamaun in 1814–15. In the latter connection Gardner (whose name, like that of his father, is spelt ‘Gardiner’ in many army lists) has been confounded by some writers with the first British resident in Nepaul, the Hon. Edward Gardiner, Bengal civil service (for whom see Debrett, Peerage, 1825, under ‘Blessington,’ and Dodwell and , Lists of Bengal Civil Servants). He also rendered valuable service under Ochterlony in the settlement of Rajpootana in 1817–18. He was rewarded in 1822 with an unattached majority in the king's service antedated to 25 Sept. 1803.
The name of William Linnæus Gardner first appears in the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
army lists in January 1819, as a local lieutenant-colonel commanding a corps of [irregular cavalry]], afterwards described as Gardner's corps, as Gardner's local horse, and as the 2nd local horse, with which he was stationed at Khassgunge in 1819, at Saugor in 1821, at Bareilly
Bareilly
Bareilly is a prominent city in Bareilly district in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Standing on the Ramganga river, it is the capital of the Bareilly division and the geographical region Rohilkhand...
in 1821–3, in Arracan in 1825, and at Khassgunge again in 1826–7. In January 1828, when the 2nd local horse was again at Bareilly, Gardner is described as on leave, and his name does not again appear in either the British or Indian army list. No further record of him exists at the India Office. He resided at Khassgunge, now the chief town of the Etah district
Etah District
Etah district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Etah town is the district headquarters. Etah district is a part of Aligarh Division. It is dominated by Yadavs and Rajputs.-Economy:...
, North West Provinces, which was his private property (Hunter, Gazetteer of India, under ‘Kásganj’), and there died on 29 July 1835, aged 65. His begum died a month after him (Parkes, vol. i.)
Gardner, a skilled rider and swordsman in his prime, is described in his latter years as a tall, soldierlike old man, of very courteous and dignified manners, and very kind to his ailing wife.
Gardner's or the 2nd local horse became the 2nd irregular cavalry, and since the Bengal mutiny, during which it was conspicuous by its loyalty, has become the 2nd Bengal cavalry.