Gilbert Pasley, Surgeon General for the Madras Presidency

GILBERT PASLEY (1731-81)

Surgeon General for the Madras Presidency

Gilbert Pasley is the fourth child and fourth son of James Pasley of Craig (c.1694-1773) and his first wife, Magdalen Elliot. His date of birth has not been identified but it seems quite likely, probable even, that he is that son of James Paisley whose baptism was registered at Westerkirk in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, on 14 January 1731 [Westerkirk Baptisms] He is the older brother of Thomas Pasley, afterwards Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Baronet, who refers to him in his Sea Journals as: "my brother Gilbert, who is appointed as our agent in Madras". [R. M. S. Pasley, Private Sea Journals, 1778-82, kept by Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Baronet (J. M. dent & Sons, 1931), page 158];;;

Surgeon General for the Madras Ptrsidency

In 1780 Gilbert Pasley was appointed Surgeon General at Madras. The Council heartily endorsd the proposal made by the President: "The President desires to propose, and doubts not that it will meet with the unanimous concurance of the Board, that Mr. Gilbert Pasley be appointed Surgeon General of this Settlement with a salary of one hundred and fifty Pagodas per month, in consideration of his long and eminent Services, his indefatigable attendance in his profession, and the singular benefit derived to Individuals and the Comunity in general from his able Assistance". This appointment was a personal one and not designed: "to go in a regular succession". [Henry Davison Love, Vestiges of Old Madras (Indian Record Series), iii, page 177]

Death and Burial

Gilbert Pasley died on 23 September 1781 and was buried in the Island Cemetery, that is St. Mary's Cemetery in Fort George, Madras, India. [Henry Davison Love, Vestiges of Old Madras (Indian Record Series), iii, page 177]

History of the Indian Medical Service

A History of the Indian Medical Service 1600-1913 by Lt.-Colonel D. G. Crawford, Bengal Medical Service Retired List, Volume I (London: W. Thacker & Co., 2 Creed Lane, E.C., Calcutta & Simla Thacker Spink & Co., 1914), 529 pp.