ALABASTER, Henry. Hastings 22.5.1836 — Bangkok 8.8.1884. British Diplomat in South-East Asia interested in Buddhism. Son of James Chaloner Al. and Harriet Woodman, educated at King’s College, London. Served as interpreter to British consulate-general in Bangkok 1864-71 (Wikipedia says from 1856), finally acting consul. Returned then to England and lived in Twickenham, Middlesex, where his son was born in 1872. Returned to Thailand in 1873 and worked as private secretary to King Chulalongkorn until his death. He was appreciated in Thailand, but despised by British Foreign Office as he opposed to plans to turn Thailand into a British colony. Married 1865 Palacia Emma Fahey, four children, then a Thai Lady Perm, two sons.
Publications: The Wheel of Law. Buddhism illustrated from Siamese Sources. 381 p. L. 1871.
Sources: Briefly mentioned in Boase, Modern English Biogr. 1, 1892 (errors!), and Kirk, A Supplement to Allibone’s Critical Dict. of English Lit. 1891 (both in Br. Biogr. Arch.); Bangkok Protestant Cemetery homepage 2015, with photo.
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