ORVILLE, Albert d’ (Le Comte d’Orville, Dorville). Brussels 12.8.1621 — Agra 8.4.1662. S.J. Belgian Missionary. Son of a nobleman, Louis Le Comte, seigneur d’Orville, and Anna Hellincx. Joined Jesuits in 1646 and studied at Ingolstadt and Louvain. He volunteered to China Mission and was ordained in 1654, then prepared in Rome. Left for the East in 1656 together with Martini, Verbiest and others. In China 1658-61, returned with —> J. Gruber by land through Tibet to India, where A.d’O. died. Gruber reached Europe and supplied Kircher with a description of their journey, including the geographical observations of his companion. They were the first Europeans known to have visited Lhasa.
Publications: A few letters not related to Central Asian travel.
Sources: *H. Bosmans, Documents sur Albert Dorville de Bruxelles. Louvain 1911; *F. Braumann (ed.), Johannes Gruber als Kundschaftler des Papstes nach China (1656-1664). St. 1985; Wessels 1924, 139ff.; Wikipedia with further references.
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