DILLON, Emile Joseph [in French also used E. de Dillon]. Dublin 21.3.1855 (or 1854?) — Barcelona 9.6.1933. British Linguist and Journalist. Son of Irish father and English mother. Originally trained for priesthood, studied at Clonliffe College Dublin, Pantasaph monastery, Wales, Seminary of St.Sulpice, France, and Paulist College, New York. When 21 he left religious career and began studies of Oriental languages in Paris (including Sanskrit and Old Iranian), further studies at Innsbruck, Leipzig and Tübingen. M.A. in Oriental languages at St.Petersburg, Ph.D. 1883 Louvain (on Iranian). Further studies of classics and comparative philology at Harkov (Harkiv): M.A. and Ph.D. also there. From 1884 Professor at Harkov, for a short time, teaching Sanskrit, Armenian and Comparative Philology. In 1887-1914 Russian correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, travelled much, also outside Russia. As journalist he reported of the Turkish massacre of Armenians (1894-95), the Dreyfus trial, the Boxer Rebellion and the Versailles peace conference. His last years lived in Barcelona. Married 1881 Elena Maksimovna Bogačova, four sons, divorce 1913, and 1914 Kathleen Ireland.

Publications: “L’Alphabet de la langue bactriane”, Actes de la Société philologique N.S. 9, 1879, 89-136 (on Avesta?).

– “as final devant les sonores en sanscrit”, Le Muséon 5, 1886, 163-170; “Iça-Upanishad”, ibid. 170-177 (French translation).

– Books on Old Testament studies, Russian literature, politics, etc.; Leaves from life. 9+243 p. L. 1932.

Sources: *J. Baylen, Oxford D.N.B.; P. Rouse, D.I.B. 3, 287f.; Stache-Weiske 2017, 517; Wikipedia.