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…
BODEN, Joseph. 17?? — Lisbon 21.11.1811. British Colonial Officer. Founder of the famous Boden chair of Sanskrit at Oxford University. Entered the Bombay Native Army in 1781 as Lieutenant, held appointments in the staff in Bombay, and was member of the Military Board. Lieutenant-colonel 1806, retired in 1807 and moved…
BLUNT, James Tillyer. 1765/67 (bapt. All Saints, Fulham, Middlesex 26.5.1767) — 20.10.1834 (buried in Exeter). British Officer in India, visited and described Delhi. Son of Richard Tillyer Blunt. Educated at Merchant Taylors School, cadet 1782, arrived in Bengal 1783. Served in Bengal Engineers as ensign, assisted Reuben Burrow in geographical…
BLAQUIERE, William Coates. 1759 (?) — Calcutta 14.8.1853. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Jacques/Jacob Blaquiere (1726–1791). Came to India with his merchant father in 1777. He is said then to be of 13, which makes the year of birth too early (note also the late death). Worked then…
BIRD, James. 1797 — Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire 10.7.1864. British Physician in India interested in Archaeology. Educated from 1810 at King’s College, Aberdeen, M.A. 1814, then at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals. Dr. med. From 1818 served in Bombay Presidency, first as assistant surgeon. In 1826-32 residency surgeon at Sattara, 1840-43…
BIOT, Jean Baptiste. Paris 21.4.1774 — Paris 3.2.1862. French Historian of Science, especially Astronomy. Son of a treasury official, Joseph Biot, joined the army in 1792, but sent to home because of failing health in 1794. Graduated as an engineer and taught Mathematics from 1797 in Beauvais, from 1799 at…
BIČURIN, Iakinf (Hyacinth, originally Nikita Jakovlevič). Akulevo, Tsivil’skij district, Kazan Province 29.8.1777* — St.Petersburg 11.5.1853. Russian (Čuvaš) Monk, Orthodox Priest, Sinologist and Central Asian Scholar. Son of Jakov, a deacon, and Akelina Stepanovna. From 1786 studied theology and languages at Kazan Ecclesiastical Academy, graduated 1799, then lecturer there. Ordained as…