PAPI, Carmelo Dionisio Lazzaro. Pontito near Pescia, Tuscany 23.10.1763 — Lucca 25.12.1834.Italian Traveller. Son of Alberto Papi and Fiora Pierini. For a while studied in a seminary, then served briefly in Neapolitan army, worked as tutor and studied medicine at Lucca and Pisa. In the early 1790s went to India, arriving…
PALM, John David (Johann D. P.). Colberg, Pomerania (now Kołobrzeg in Poland) 1775 — Colombo 10.9.1842 (when 66). Rev. German Missionary in Sri Lanka. Began as a weaver, educated in Berlin. Ordained 1802, when 26. Arrived at Ceylon in 1805. Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Colombo and Jaffna. He…
PALLAS, Peter Simon. Berlin 22.9.1741 — Berlin 8.9.1811. German Botanist, Ethnologist, Naturalist and Linguist in Russian Service. Son of Simon Pallas (1694–1770), Professor of Surgery, and Susanne Lienhardi. Studies of medicine and natural sciences at Halle, Göttingen and Leiden (Dr.med. there 1760). Invited by Catherine II joined St.Petersburg Academy in…
OVINGTON, John. Melsonby, Yorkshire bapt. 5.3.1653 — ?.6.1731. Rev. English Priest and Traveller. Son of James and Mary O., a family of yeoman-farmers. Studies at Trinity College, Dublin from 1671, B.A. 1675, M.A. 1678. Then at St. John’s College, Cambridge. His ordination and life in next years remein unknown. When…
ONORATO DA UDINE (Franciscus Honoratus ad Utino, lay Giangiacomo). Tomba near Udine 7.11.1757 — Rome 8.12.1836. Italian Capuchin Missionary in India. Went to India in 1792, worked many years in Pondicherry, Surat, Madras and Masulipatan. Very little is known of his life (except some contradicting mentions, claiming he worked in Tibet, Madagascar, or…
MODAVE, Louis Laurent de Féderbe, Count de (Fayd’herbe de Maudave). Château du Fayet, Barraux (Isère) 22.6.1725 — Masulipatam 22.12.1777. French Nobleman, Officer and Traveller. Son of colonel Jean Charles Nicolas F., C. de M. and Marie Thérèse Maniquet du Fayet. As young officer participated in many European wars. Came to India as…
MARTIN, Claude. Lyon 5.1.1735 — Lucknow 13.9.1800. French Officer in India. Born in a modest middle class family, son of Fleury Martin (1708–1735), a casket maker, and Anne Vaginay (1702–1735). After school in Lyon apprenticed to a local silk weaver, but in 1751 he enlisted as a soldier in French…
MAHONY, Daniel. Dunloe Castle, Kerry, Ireland 1758 — Ibid. 29.10.1832. British (Irish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of John Mahony and Honora Haly. Joined army in 1782, Captain 1793. In 1796 visited Kandy as Lieutenant, then Captain (1801), later Brigade Major (1810) and 1812 Lieutenant-Colonel. Retired and lived in his…
MACNEILL, Hector. Rosebank House near Roslin, Midlothian 22.10.1746 — Edinburgh 15.3.1818. British (Scottish) Poet. Son of James Macneill, a poor army captain turned farmer, and Jean Gillanders, educated at Stirling. When 14 he was sent as clerk to Caribian by a Bristol merchant and a relative to him. After a…
MCKERRELL, John. Hillhouse, Ayrshire 17?? — London 1835. British (Scottish) Civil Servant in India. From 1804 in Madras Civil Service, worked as Translator of Telugu and Kannaḍa, also an ex officio member of the Board of Superintendence of the College of Fort St. George. Retired, finally committed suicide. Possibly he…