BLEECK, Arthur Henry. Westbury, Wiltshire 18.5.1829 — Kensington, London 27.1.1877. British Orientalist, said to be known of his remarkable linguistic talent (but translating Spiegel’s German Avesta is not so remarkable). Son of William Bl. and Charlotte Goodman. Studies at University College, London. First employed in British Museum. During the Crimean war he was in Turkey, and after returning did not get back his place in the Museum, and Muncherjee Hormusjee Cana hired him for translating the Avesta.

Publications: With W. B. Barker: A Practical grammar of the Turkish Language. 157 p. L. 1854.

– A concise grammar of the Persian Language. 206 p. L. 1857; Catalogue of the Napoleon Library in the possession of Mr. Joshua Bates. 56 p. Privately printed L. 1858.

– Avesta. The religious books of the Parsees. From Professor Spiegel’s German translation. 1-3. 24+156+141+211 p. L. 1864.

Sources: T.C[ooper], D.N.B. 5, 1886, 209 (from *Athenaeum), rev. by *E. Baigent, Oxford D.N.B.; Boase’s and Kirk’s dictionaries in Br. Biogr. Arch.