ABEL, Iwarus (Ivar). Ejstrup Mølle, Asferg Sogn near Randers 1720 — Fredensborg 1788. Danish Linguist. Son of Jens Iversen Abel, a miller, and Karen Jensdatter. Educated in Viborg, studied law at Copenhagen. In 1761-71 worked as procurator in Copenhagen city court, now also became interested in languages. Married with Maria…
ZUBATÝ, Josef. Prague 20.4.1855 (or 1851?) — Prague 21.3.1931. Czechoslovakian Indologist and Slavic Scholar. Professor in Prague. Studied classical philology, Czech, Sanskrit and Comparative Linguistics at Prague (under Ludwig). Ph.D. 1883. PD 1885 Prague, in the Czech branch of the University, succeeding Vaníček in Sanskrit teaching. From 1894 Professor of…
WRIGHT, Joseph. Idle near Bradford, Yorkshire 31.10.1855 — Oxford 27.2.1930. British Linguist. Son of Dufton Wright (d. 1866), a woollen cloth weaver and quarryman, and Sarah Ann Atkinson, a modest family. Working from childhood in various odd jobs he started night-school when 15, concentrating on languages, and in 1876 went…
WRIGHT, Henry Nelson. Mainput, Uttar Pradesh 29.10.1869 — England 13.5.1941. British Civil Servant and Numismatist In India, concentrating on Muslim coins. Son of Francis Nelson Wright of I.C.S., educated at Eton. Studied two years classics at Oxford (Corpus Christi College). In 1890 sailed to India, first post in Meerut. From…
WLISLOCKI, Heinrich Adalbert von. Kronstadt (now Braşov) 9.7.1856 — Klosdorf bei Kleinkopisch (now Şona in Translivania) 19.2.1907. Austrian Gypsy Scholar. His father was Polish-Austrian tax collector and mother a German of Transylvania, gymnasium in Kronstadt. In 1875-79 studied at Klausenburg (Cluj-Napoca), mainly Germanic, but also Sanskrit (Brassai). Ph.D. 1879 (diss.…
WILMOT, Claude Rupert Trench. Stoke Newington, London 10.11.1897 — Cirencester, Gloucestershire 27.7.1961. British Colonial Officer in North-West India. Son of Claude Ernest Willington Wilmot and Gertrude Isabelle Bate. Served in the WW I in Sherwood Foresters, then served in Egypt, Turkey and India, in the Punjab and Karachi. Served in…
WILLIAMS, William Holme. 18?? – 19??. U.S. Classical and Oriental Scholar. A.B. 1876 University of Wisconsin. From 1879 Instructor and 1883 Assistant Professor of Greek, 1889 Professor of Hebrew and Sanskrit at University of Wisconsin in Madison, started Sanskrit teaching there. From 1892 Professor of Semitic Languages and Hellenistic Greek…
WILLIAMS, Robert Hamilton Blair. Buckland, East Tilbury, Essex 21.8.1915 — 1975 (place and date not known). British Indologist. At S.O.A.S. in London. Son of Hamilton Blair Lee Williams. Graduated B.A. 1937 from S.O.A.S. in Indo-Aryan (under Turner). Assistant Keeper in India Office Library (Sanskrit, Pāli and Prākrit books) in 1939-46…
WHITEHEAD, Henry Alfred. Brighton, Sussex 19.12.1853 — Reading, Berkshire 14.4.1947. British Missionary Scholar in India. Sin of Rev. Alfred Whitehead and Maria Sarah Buckmaster, brother of philosopher A. N. Wh. (1861–1947). Educated at Sherborne and Trinity College, Oxford. Ordained 1879, left in 1884 to India. Worked as principal of Bishop’s College…
WESTPHAL-HELLBUSCH, Sigrid. Rendsburg 10.6.1915 — Oldenburg 1.2.1984. German Anthropologist. Professor in Berlin. Daughter of engineer (DI) Erwin Hellbusch and Martha Philippi, school in Berlin. From 1935 studied Anthropology, Geography and Psychology at Berlin. Ph.D. 1940. Then worked at Staatliches Museum für Völkerkunde 1940-45. PD 1946 Berlin (Humboldt University), in 1951-53 Professor…