George Powell Thomas
George Powell Thomas (1808–1857) was a British officer in the Indian Army who died from wounds received in the Battle of Agra during the 1857 Indian Mutiny. He was known as a man of courage, talent, and creativity—an artist and a poet as well as a soldier.
He was born on August 26, 1808, at Bahramghat near Lucknow, the son of Major General Lewis Thomas and Maria Frances. He was commissioned in 1825 and began a varied career, including work in the Thagi department (1835) and civil service in the Central Provinces (1835–1840).
Thomas served as a captain with the 64th Bengal Native Infantry and helped in the relief of Jellalabad in 1842. He saw action in Afghanistan under General Sir George Pollock, where he commanded a corps of Jezailchees. He was promoted to major in 1851.
When the war with Russia began, he was on sick leave at home but then joined the Turkish Contingent under General Vivian, commanding a regiment of Bashi Bazouks. He earned the Queen’s local rank of lieutenant-colonel in Turkey and later volunteered for the Crimea, taking part in the fall of Sevastopol in 1855, for which he received the Crimea Medal.
In India, on July 15, 1857, during the mutiny, he bravely commanded five companies on the right wing at Agra despite illness. He was wounded in the foot; his horse was shot and fell on him, injuring his head. He died of his wounds on August 4, 1857, and was buried in the fort cemetery at Agra.
Thomas was also a talented amateur artist and poet. He produced Sketches of the Himalayas (1846) and Views of Simla, twenty-four hand-coloured lithographs, which were well received. The Spectator praised his lively and vigorous drawing style. In 1847 he published Poems, described as graceful and full of feeling. His poetry appeared in anthologies, including The Book of the Sonnet (1867). He wrote plays as well, such as Michele Orombello and The Assassin, which were noted for their powerful dramatic sense.
He married Albina Grace Andrews on August 1, 1831, at Dacca. They had several children: Marian Albina, Charles Lewis Stratford, Stratford Powell (died young), Charles Frederick, Montague George, Alice Constance, Alfred Campbell (died young), and Florence Juliet. Albina died in 1889 and is buried in Richmond Old Cemetery, where George is also commemorated.
Publications include Views of Simla (1846), Poems (1847), and Two Tragedies (1852).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 01:51 (CET).