BROWN, William. 1757/67? — 1837. British Civil Servant in India. Senior merchant in Madras in the 1810s, in 1817 decribed himself as “many years resident in Northern Sircars”. Completed his dictionary, with the help of Telugu pandits, in 1807. Publications: Anonymously published: A Grammar of Gentoo Language, as it is…
BROWN, Thomas Richard. Whatton, Nottinghamshire 1791 — Southwark, West Sussex 1.9.1875. British Priest and a Self-Made Scholar. Son of Richard Brown of Cambridge. From 1810 studies at St. John’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1815, M.A. 1820). Ordained deacon 1815, priest 1818. Some time in orders, in 1834 nominated to the vicarage…
BROWN, Charles Philip. Calcutta, India 10.11.1798 — London 12.12.1884. British Civil Servant in India (1817-55) and Indologist, specialist of Telugu language. Son of Rev. David Brown (1763–1812), the provost of Calcutta College, and Frances Cowley. Educated by his father in India, after his death came to England in 1812. After…
BROUGHTON, Thomas Duer. 1778 — London 16.11.1835. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. Thomas Broughton (Rector of St.Peter’s in Bristol) and his wife Mary., educated at Eton. Joined the Bengal Army in 1795, lieutenant 1797. Participated in the siege of Seringapatam 1799. In 1802 military resident with the…
BRIGGS, John. Madapollam, Madras 18.9.1785 — Burgess Hill, Sussex 27.4.1875. British Colonial Officer and Oriental Scholar, 1801-35 in India. Son of physician James (or John?) Briggs (1758–1830) and Martha Pybus (1758–1788), came to England 1789. Educated at Eton 1794-99. From 1801 in Madras infantry, participated in both Maratha wars. In…
BOWREY (Bowry), Thomas. Wapping, London 7.9.1659 — 1?.7.1713. British Sea Captain in the East. Came to Madras as a child of 7 after the 1666 great fire of London. In India and South-East Asia in as sailing master, then captain, until 1688. If the Hudson Bay Dictionary is by him,…
BOPP, Franz. Mainz 14.9.1791 — Berlin 23.10.1867. German Indologist and Linguist. Professor in Berlin. Born in a Roman Catholic family, son of a civil servant, Andreas Bopp (1765?–1840), and Regina Lincker (d. 1820). Grew up in Aschaffenburg, where he had K. Windischmann as his teacher at the local Gymnasium, then…
BOISSEROLLE-BOISVILLIERS, Aurèle-Jean de (Baron A.-J. de Boisserolle, chevalier de Boisvilliers). Paris 3.9.1764 — Sumène (Gard) 1.2.1829. French General, apparently interested in Sanskrit. Son of a civil servant, Count François de Boisserolle, and Elisabeth Law de Lauriston, joined the army in 1782. 1782-83 served as a sous-lieutenant, then gardes du corps.…
BOHLEN, Peter von. Wüppels, Jeverland 13.3.1796 — Halle 6.2.1840. German Indologist and Orientalist. Professor in Königsberg. Son of a poor farmer, Christian Bohlen, belonging to an old Pomoranian noble family, and Frauke Margaretha Ocken. Parents died early and he had a checquered life. He took up the old title of…
BOGLE, George. Daldowie on Clyde near Glasgow 26.11.1746 — Calcutta 3.4.1781. British (Scottish) Traveller and Diplomat. Youngest son of George Bogle (1700–1784), an important Glasgow merchant, and Ann Sinclair, mother died when he was 17. Educated at Haddington, Glasgow, then at Edinburgh University. After four years in family business joined…