FLEX, Oscar (Oskar). 1840? — 1???. German. In a tea plantation in Assam in 1864-67, then returned to Berlin. One source mentions him as Superintendent of East-India Tea Company. Note that there were two Germans of the same name at the same time in different parts of India and they…
FLEX, Oscar (Oskar) Theodor. Dubrau, Oberspreewald-Lausitz 27.8.1840 — 19??. Rev. German Missionary in India. From Silesia. From 1861 in Gossner Mission in Ranchi, working with Kurukh (Oraon). In 1869 ordained priest and married Antonie Flex, children. In 1877 joined Gospel Propagation Society. Later in Europe (1881), then in West Indies.…
FERRARI, Alfonsa. Aquila 1.11.1918 — 1.1.1954. Italian Indologist. Professor in Rome. Grew up in Milano, studied in Rome, graduated in 1941 under Formichi and 1945 under Tucci (Indian religion and philosophy). From 1945 assistente straordinario di sanscrit. In 1946 and 1947-48 further studies of Buddhism, Tibetan and Sanskrit literature in…
FERRAR, Michael Lloyd. Coleraine, Londonderry 1839 — 1904. British (Irish) Civil Servant in India. Son of Michael Lloyd Ferrar (1799–1884), a cavalry officer of Indian army, and Mary Minchin (1806–1858). Joined I.C.S. 1861, arrived in India 1863, retired 1899 and returned to the U.K. In 1871 served in Seetapore, Audh.…
FERNANDEZ TRACOSCO, Gonçalo. 1541 — 1619/21. Father. Portuguese Jesuit in India. Arrived in India in 1560 as a soldier, but soon turned to religion and joined the S.J. In charge of the Mission in Madurai from 1595, he became Roberto De Nobili’s superior, but strongly opposed to the new methods…
FERGUSON, William. Urquhart and Logie Wester, Ross-shire 18.7.1820 — Colombo 31.7.1887. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Botanist in Sri Lanka. Son of John Ferguson and Ann Mackerras, brother of —> Alastair M. Ferguson (1816–1892). Joined C.C.S. in 1839. Beside botany he was also interested in herpetology and entomology. Married 1852…
FERGUSON, Alastair Mackenzie. Urquhart and Logie Wester (Cannon Bridge?), Rossshire 25.1.1816 — Colombo 26.12.1892. British (Scottish) Journalist in Sri Lanka. Son of John Ferguson and Ann Mackerras, brother of —> William Ferguson (1820–1887). Came to Ceylon in 1837 in the staff of Governor J. A. Stewart Mackenzie. Worked as planter,…
FELL, Edward. 17?? — 1824. British Colonial Officer in India. From 1807 Lieutenant, 1823 Captain of 10th Native Infantry. Superintendent of Benares Sanskrit College, from 1820 until death. In 1819 he examined the remains of Sanchi and wrote the first published decription. He is reputed to have mastered Sanskrit, also…
CHANTRAINE, Pierre Louis. Lille 15.9.1899 — Paris 30.6.1974. French Classical (Greek) Scholar and Linguist also interested in India. Professor in Paris. Son of a classical scholar. Educated in Cambrai, studies in Paris and Lille (Ernout, aggrégation 1922), in 1922–25 again in Paris (Meillet, also Vendryes, Bloch, P. Mazon). Ph.D. 1927.…
FEIST, Samuel Sigmund. Mainz 12.6.1865 — Copenhagen 23.3.1943. German IE Linguist and Pedagogue. Son of wine merchant David Feist and Juliana Marx. Studies at Strassburg (Strasbourg), Ph.D. 1888 (diss. on Gothic). Director of the Reichenheim Orphanage in Berlin, 1906-35, kept a military order. In 1939 emigrated as Jew to Denmark…