COCK, Jan Kornelis de. Vierhuizen, Ulrum, Groningen 23.10.1867 — Davos, Switzerland 6.4.1941. Dutch Indologist. Son of an industrialist, Jan Klaassens de Cock, and Frouke Boon. After gymnasium in Groningen studied Dutch at Amsterdam, soon also Sanskrit under Uhlenbeck. Ph.D. 1899 Amsterdam. As Indology was then not an independent subject, his dissertation was accepted in Dutch Literature. The work was based on Sanskrit epics and dramas and early modern travel accounts. Vogel, apparently his friend, lauds its critical approach. In 1896-1914 he worked as a gymnasium teacher in Maastricht. In 1909-10 travelled in India and Ceylon and wrote an unpublished travel account and a couple of popular articles in Dutch. He planned a scholarly career, but the plans of collaboration with Jacobi were impended by war and soon the illness (tuberculosis) also marred further plans. After years in sanatoriums he moved in 1924 to Davos. In 1900 married Hermine Boon (1868–1953), one son (d. 1934). Knew also Hindi.
Publications: Diss. Eene oudindische stad volgens het Epos. 129 p. Groningen 1899.
– Reviews of Dutch Indological works in the Museum, two popular articles in Dutch in Elsevier’s Geïlllustreerd Maandschrift (1913, 1915).
– Mijn reis in India. De dagboeken en foto’s van JKdeC in India en Sri Lanka, 1909-10. 294 p. ill. Leiden & Groningen 2014
Sources: J.-Ph. Vogel, Jaarboek van de maatschappij der Nederlands Letterkunde 1942, 68-71; Dutch Indology homepage; family details in geneagraphie.com; only diss. in the N.U.C.
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