BALFOUR, Francis. Fife 1744? — Fernie estate, Fife 7.5.1818. British (Scottish) Physician in India. Son of Arthur B., an officer. Dr.Med. 1767 Edinburgh. From 1769 Assistant Surgeon in E.I.C.’s service in India, mainly in Calcutta, full surgeon 1777. He was a friend of Warren Hastings and soon joined the A.S.B,…
BAILLY, Jean-Sylvain. Paris 15.9.1736 — Paris 10.11.1793. French Mathematician, Astronomist and Historian of Astronomy. Son of Jacques Bailly, an artist, and Cécile Guichon. Attracted early attention with his scientific skill. From 1763 member of French Academy. Also a politician, participated in early revolution, but was then executed. In 1789-91 Mayor…
BAILEY, Benjamin. Dewsbury, Yorkshire ?.11.1791 — Sheinton, Shropshire 3.4.1871. Rev. British Missionary of Church Missionary Society and Pioneer of Malayālam Lexicography. Son of Joseph and Martha Bailey. Ordained priest 1815 in York, he married 1816 Elizabeth Ella and left for Kerala, where he founded his mission station in Kottayam. Worked…
BABINGTON, Benjamin Guy. London 5.3.1794 — London 5/8.4.1865. British Physician interested in Tamil Language and Literature. Son of a London physician, William Babington (1756–1833, of Irish origin), and Martha Elizabeth Hough. Educated at Charterhouse 1803-07. He served in the navy until 1810, got then an appointment in India and went…
ASSUMPÇAM, Manoel da (Assumpção). Évora 16?? — 17??. Portuguese Priest, Augustinian Monk, and Missionary in India, author of a Bengali grammar and dictionary, published in Lisboa in 1743. From 1725 Rector of Missão de S. Nicolau in Bhaeai, Bengal (now in Bangladesh), where he remained many years. In the library…
ARANY, János. Nagyszalonta (now Salonta in Romania) 2.3.1817 — Budapest 22.10.1882. Hungarian Poet. Son of György Arany and Sára Megyeri. After a chequered early life he was teacher at a gymnasium in Nagykőrös from 1850, from 1860 in Budapest. 1865 secretary of the Hungarian Academy, retired in 1877. Married 1840…
BOURGUIGNON D’ANVILLE, Jean-Baptiste. Paris 11.7.1697 — Paris 28.1.1782. French Cartographer, Geographer and Historian of Geography. Son of Hubert Bourguignon, a tailor, and Charlotte Vaugon. Student of abbé de Longerue. One of the Royal Geographers at the age of 22 (1719). In 1754 member of A.I.B.L., 1773 of Académie des Sciences.…
ANTON, Konrad Gottlob. Lauban, Oberlausitz (Lubań in Poland) 29.11.1745 — Dresden 4.7.1814. German Oriental Scholar and Linguist. Professor at Wittenberg. In one source (Gel. T.) born in 1743. Son of Konrad Anton, a belter, and Maria Magdalene Zimmer. Studies at Leipzig. From 1775 Professor of Oriental (i.e. Semitic) Languages at…
ANQUETIL-DUPERRON, Abraham Hyacinthe. Paris 7.12.1731 — Paris 18.1.1805. French Orientalist, Pioneer of Iranian and Indian Studies. Travelled in India 1755-61, then member of the A.I.B.L. in Paris. He was the son of a spice merchant from Paris, Pierre Anquetil, and Angélique Coignard, and brother of historian Louis-Pierre Anquetil (1723-1806). He…
ANKER, Peter (until 1788 Ancher). Fredrikshald 31.7.1744 — Øraker near Kristiania (Oslo) 17.4.1832. Norwegian Colonial Officer in Danish service in India. Son of trader and industrialist Erik Ancher (1709–1785) and Anne Cathrine Tank (1723–1761), brother of politician Carsten Tank Anker (1747–1824). In 1759-65 travelled with his brother in Europe, then…