RICE, Benjamin Holt. 28.5.1814 — Bangalore ?.2.1887. Rev. British Missionary in South India, a Kannada Scholar. Son of wool merchant Simon Peter Rice. Worked in the family business, but soon became interested in religion. In 1834-36 studied at Homerton College in Hackney (London). Married and came to India with his wife, Jane Peach Singer (d. 1864), in 1836 and worked as a teacher and missionary of London Missionary Society in Bangalore until his death. Father of —> Benjamin L. Rice (1837–1927), —> Edward P. Rice (1849–1936) and —> Henry Rice (b. 1846). As widower married Catherine Muller (née Rhenius, d. 1887), the widow of a missionary and daughter of —> Karl Rhenius.
The Rice Memorial Church in Bangalore is named after him in 1917. Beside Kannaḍa he knew Tamil.
Publications: Wrote textbooks in Kannada on arithmetics, geography and history, also wrote on the Bible and translated hymns, etc.
Sources: Stray notes mostly in connexion of his son and of the memorial church, among which only www.gun.ovh/War/en/Rice_Memorial_Church%2C_Bangalore contains some details of his life (death in 1877 must be error for 1887, because he is also said to have worked full 50 years in Bangalore); *E.P. Rice (his son), B.R. or Fifty Years in the Master’s Service. 192 p. Bangalore 1890; long Wikipedia article on Rice Memorial Church with two photos.
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