LUMSDEN, Matthew. Leochal-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire 1777 — Cheltenham, Gloucester (B) or Tooting Common, Surrey (G & W) 18.3. or 31.3.1835. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of John Lumsden (1727–1795) and Anne Forbes (1734–1811), cousin of —> Harry Burnett Lumsden (1821–1896). Educated at King’s College, Old Aberdeen. Came to India in 1794 in E.I.C.’s service, learned soon Arabic and Persian. From 1803 Assistant Professor and from 1808 Professor of Arabic and Persian at College of Fort William in Calcutta. From 1812 Secretary of Calcutta Madrasa, in 1814-17 in charge of Company’s press in Calcutta, 1818 Secretary to the Stationery Committee. In 1820 traveled with his cousin, Lieutenant Thomas Lumsden, through Iran, Georgia and Russia to England. Again in Calcutta as Professor in 1822-25. Retired in 1826 and spent his last years in England. LL.D. 1808 Old Aberdeen.
Publications: A Grammar of the Persian language. 1-2. Calcutta 1800, …of the Arabic language. 1. Calcutta 1813, edited Persian selections (1809) and the first part of Firdausī’s Shahnameh. Calcutta 1811.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; G.G[oodwin], D.N.B. 34, 1893, 278, rev. by *L. Parvin, Oxford D.N.B.; ancestors.familysearch.org; Wikipedia (from D.N.B.).
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