PROCTER, Thomas. 1797 — Bath or Calcutta (?) 16.6.1836. Rev. British Clergyman in India. Son of Major T. Procter. From 1818 studies at Oxford (Jesus College), B.A. 1821, M.A. 1824. Fellow of Queen’s College 1824-26. Chaplain in Calcutta and Examiner at College of Fort William (1828). In 1831 among the…
PRICE, William. 17?? — 18??. British Colonial Officer and Oriental Scholar in India. Lieutenant (1807), then Captain (1823) and Major (1831) in the 5th native regiment in Bengal. From 1813 taught Bengali, Marathi and Sanskrit at Fort William College, from 1824 Professor of Hindee (i.e. Braj) and Hindoostanee there. Retired…
POITIERS, Thomas de. 16?? — ?.4.1742. Father. French Capuchin Missionary in India. Arrived in India in the 1690s, in 1715 in Madras. General supérieur of Capuchin missions on Coromandel coast in Pondichérey from before 1733 until death. He was involved in the quarrels between Jesuits and Capuchins. Publications: Le Paganisme des…
POGSON, Wredenhall Robert. Sutton, Surrey 1.7.1787 — Sikraud, Benares 6.8.1843. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Bedingfield Pogson (1756–1799) and Elizabeth Philadelphia Pearce. Cadet 1803, served in Bengal Army from 1805, Lieutenant-Colonel 1824. Married 1815 Anna Cordelia Queiros, 12 children. Publications: History of the Boondelas. 7+174 p. Calcutta 1828 (translation…
PLAYFAIR, John. Benvie, Forfarshire 10.3.1748 — Burntisland, Fife 20.7.1819. British (Scottish) Scientist and Mathematician. Son of Rev. James Playfair and Margaret Young, educated at home. Studies at St.Andrews and Edinburgh, began with divinity, but turned to science. Worked as preacher and tutor, continuing his studies. From 1785 Professor of Mathematics…
PEZZONI, Antonino. Lodi 19.11.1777 — Lugano 4.10.1844. O.F.M.Cap. Italian Capuchin Missionary in India. Monsignore. Vicar Apostolic of Tibet-Hindustan in Agra and Titular Bishop of Esbus (Esbona, Hesbon) in 1826-42, then retired after more than 35 years’ service in India and returned to Italy. Publications: Grammatica italiana e indostana. 462 p. Sardhana…
PERCIVAL (Perceval), Robert. 1765 — 1826. British Colonial Officer. Joined Irish Infantry in the U.K., as Captain in 1795-97 participated in the conquest of Dutch Capeland. In 1797 to Ceylon, where he remained three years. His both books are said to be full of description of the cruelty and treachery…
PEARSON, John. Calcutta 1790 — 1831. British Missionary in India. Worked for London Missionary Society in Bengal Publications: A School Dictionary, English–Bengali. Calcutta 1829. Sources: A. K. Biswas, “Rammohun Roy, his intellectual compatriots and their scientific contributions”, Indian Journal of History of Science 46.3, 2011, 427-481 (briefly on p. 450).
PEARSE, Thomas Deane. 1738 (1741/42?) — on the Ganges 15.6.1789. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Royal Navy Captain Thomas Pearse and Martha Purvis (1713–1762), of Reading. After Military Academy in Woolwich joined Royal Artillery 1761. In 1768 transferred to E.I.C.’s service and became Major in Bengal army. Colonel…
PATERSON, John David. 1754? — Dacca (Dhaka) 27.5.1809, when 55. Britishman, in service of E.I.C. in Bengal from 1776. Finally Judge and Magistrate of Dacca. Founder member of A.S.B. Compared Indian religion with Graeco-Roman and Egyptian. Publications: “Of the Origin of Hindu Religion”, As. Res.8, 1805, 44-87; “On the Grámas, or Musical Scales…