JEEJEEBHOY, Sir JAMSETJEE, a Parsee merchant-prince and philanthropist, was b. of poor parents at Bombay, July 15, 1783. At an early period, he showed a great aptitude for mercantile pursuits, and in consequence, his father-in-law, Framjee Nusser-, wanjee, a Bombay merchant, took him into partnership. While still a young man, he. visited most of the maritime countries of Asia, besides Egypt, Syria, and England.. After he had become chief 'partner iu his father-in-law's firm, the wealth of which rapidly and prodigiously increased, Jeejeebhoy kept his eye on the progress of political events in Europe; and when peace was restored there after the fall of Napoleon, the Indian trade was so much benefited that; from 1814 to 1819, the value of the imports from Europe rose from £870,000 to £3,052,000—in which increase, we are informed, " the house of sir Jamsetjee and his father-in-law enormously participated." By the year 1820, when he had completed his 20th year of business, he had amassed an immense fortune, and was universally acknowledged to be the first merchant in the East. Ile now began to exhibit, on a magnificent scale, his liberality of spirit and love of his fellow creatures. His contribution to the Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy hospital was 160,500 rupees; his endowment of the Parsee benevolent institution, 440,000 rupees; the Mahim cause way, built by him, cost 150,500 rupees; the Dhurumsalla, or poor asylum, 150,000 rupees; the water-works constructed by him at Poona cost 180,000 rupees; and the endowment of the Jamsetjec school of industrial arts, 100,000 rupees. Altogether,
between the years 1822 and 1858, sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy spent "upwards of a quarter of million pounds sterling in founding, endowing, or supporting undertakings of a purely benevolent character." Parsee and Christian, Hindu and Mussulinan, were alike the objects of his splendid and magnanimous beneficence. At length the fame of his munificence reached the ears of queen Victoria, who conferred on him the honor of knighthood. Other honors followed; and in 1857 he was made a baronet of the United Kingdom. He died April 15, 1859, and was succeeded in the baronetcy by his eldest son, Cursetjee Jamsetjec Jeejeebhoy, who, in accordance with his father's will, took his father's name. He, again, was succeeded in 1877 by Ins son who also assumed the name of the first baronet.