ŽUKOVSKIJ, Vasilij Andreevič. Mišenskoe, Tula province 19.1.(9.2.)1783 — Baden-Baden 12.(24.)4.1852. Russian poet. He was illegitimate son of a landowner, Afanasij Ivanovič Bunin (1727–1791) and Turkish slave girl Salkha, adopted by a family friend (hence the patronym and the surname Žukovskij), but grew up in his father’s house. From the age…
ZIEGENBALG, Bartholomäus. Pulsnitz, Saxony 14.6.1683 (or 10.6.1682?) — Tranquebar, India 23.2.1719. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology (Tamil Scholar). In South India 1706-19. Son of the elder B. Ziegenbalg (1640–1694), a modest grain merchant, and Maria Brückner (1646–1692). After gymnasium in Görlitz and Berlin, studied one year under A. H.…
YATES, William. Loughborough, Leicestershire 15.12.1792 — on sea 3.7.1845. Rev. British Missionary and Indologist in India. Son of elder William Yates, a Baptist shoemaker, and his wife Ann, went to school in Leicestershire. He intended to follow in his father’s profession, but became engaged in religion and started in the…
ORME, Robert. Anjengo (Anchuthengu), Travancore 25.12.1728 — Great Ealing (London) 13.1.1801. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Historiographer of the E.I.C. Son of Surgeon Alexander Orme of E.I.C. and his wife, née Hill. In the age of two he was sent to his aunt in London, educated at Harrow…
ORAZIO DELLA PENNA DI BILLI, Francesco (Franciscus Horatius a Pennabilli; lay conte Luzio Olivieri). Pennabilli, Marche ?.11.1680 — Patan, Nepal 20.7.1745. Count. Italian Capuchin Missionary in Tibet. Born as an Italian nobleman, son of count Orazio Olivieri and his wife Francesca, entered the Capuchin monastery of Pietrarubbia in 1700.As a member…
ONDAATJE, Matthew Jurgen. 1??? — 1???. Rev. Dutch Priest in Ceylon and Batavia in the 18th century. Proponent of Colombo, alter clergyman in Batavia. Published Christian works in Sinhalese in the 1780s. There was another, Rev. W. J. Ondaatje, V.D.M., who was Rector of Government Seminary in Colombo around 1770.…
OBRY, Jean-Baptiste-François. Villers-Bretonneux (Somme) 17.9.1793 — 1871. French Literate interested in Indology and Religions. Son of wool merchant Firmin Obry and Marie Floride Debrie. Worked as attorney and judge in Amiens. “Juge honoraire, membre de l’académie d’Amiens”. He was much interested in Hebrew and in the 1830s he invented a…
NYERUP, Rasmus. Nyrup, Ørsted Sogn, Funen 12.3.1759 — Copenhagen 28.6.1829. Danish Scholar interested in India. Son of Christen Rasmussen, a poor villain, and Karen Simonsdatter. In 1773 came to Odense Latin school, matriculated 1776 and went to Copenhagen. Studies of philology and theology at Copenhagen University, M.A. 1784. In 1784-1803…
NOVIKOV, Nikolaj Ivanovič. Tihvinskoje-Avdotjino near Bronnicky (SE of Moscow) 8.5.(27.4.)1744 — ibid. 12.8.(31.7.)1818. Russian Literate, one of the leading representatives of Enlightenment in Russia. Born in a noble family, son of Ivan Vasil’evič Novikov (1699–1763), educated in Moscow. After military service in 1762-67 worked in the committee for the renovation…
NIEBUHR, Carsten. Lüdingworth near Cuxhaven 17.3.1733 — Meldorf, Holstein 26.4.1815. German Traveller, Geographer and Engineer in Danish Service. Son of Barthold Niebuhr (1704–1749), a free farmer, and Caecilie von Duhn (1706–1733). Father’s death interrupted school, but he studied privately mathematics, surveying, and Arabic, then as student at Göttingen. Selected by…