XAVIER, Francisco (Franciscus Xaverius, Francis Xavier, Francisco Javier). Javier, Navarra 7.4.1506 — Shangchuan Island, China 3.12.1552. S.J. Spanish (Basque?) Missionary in India. Member of Navarran nobility, studied in Paris (M.A. 1530). Friend and helper of Ignacio Loyola, one of the first Jesuits to take vows in 1534 (ordained 1537), founder…
ORTA, García d’ (G. de Orta, ab Horto, del Jardin; Anrique de Orta). Castelo de Vide 1501? — Velha Goa 1568 (or at latest 1572). Spanish physician and botanist in Portuguese service in India, from 1534 until his death. Born in eastern Portugal as the son of Spanish Jewish refugees,…
OLIVEIRA, João de. Daman 1595 — after 1641. Father. S.J. Portuguese (or Indian?) Priest and Missionary in Ladakh and India. Joined Jesuits when 17 and from 1626 in Mughal Mission. Until 1831 stayed in Tsaparang, then went with Azevedo to Leh and soon returned to Agra. Publications: A few letters.…
ÓLAFSSON, Jón (Jan), called Bøsseskytte and Indíafari. “Svarthamri í Álftafirði við Ísafjarðardjúp” in Vestfirðir (Westfjords) 1593 (or 29.8.1596) — 2.5.1679. Icelandic Traveller in India, in the service of the Danish East India Company in Trankebar. Son of Ólafur Jónsson and Ólöf Þorsteinsdóttir, father died when he was 7. In 1615…
NUNIZ (Nunes), Fernão. 1500? — 1550?. Portuguese Jewish Merchant in India. In 1535-37 stayed in Vijayanagar and then wrote an account, including a short history of the Vijayanagara Empire. The manuscript came to Portugal and was used by Barros, but then forgotten for many years. Later on he was persecuted…
MONSERRATE, Antonio de (Antoni de Montserrat). Vic, Barcelona 1536? — Salsette 26.10.1605. Father. S.J. Spanish (Catalan) Missionary in India. Joined S.J. 1556, studied at Coimbra, then served in Lisbon and left for India in 1574. Together with Rodolpho Aquaviva and Francisco Enriques he travelled in 1569 to Surat and to…
MILDENHALL (Midnall), John. Little Bedwell, Wiltshire 1560 (?) — Ajmer June 1614. British Traveller in India, self-styled envoy of the E.I.C. to Mughal Court in 1603. Son of Sir John M. Being a London merchant, he travelled on his own account, without any official position, although he often pretended the…
MANRIQUE, Sebastião (Sebastien). Porto 1590? — London 1669. Portuguese Augustinian monk and Missionary in India. Came early to Goa. Arriving in ship from Goa in 1612 he started with three other missionaries the catholic mission in Bengal. During 13 years in India he saw and described many little known places. From…
LORD, Henry. Oxfordshire 1563 (?) — 16??. British Clergyman in India. Matriculated from Magdalen Hall, Oxford, in 1580, apparently never graduated. Worked as curate. From 1625–29 chaplain of the British factory in Surat, and possibly remained little longer in India, returning in 1630. His later life and time of death…
LINSCHOTEN, Jan Huyghen van (born Jan Huygen). Haarlem 1563 — Enkhuizen 8.2.1611. Dutch Traveller. Born in a Roman Catholic family, son of a public notary, Huig Joostenszoon and Marretje Tin Henriksdachter. Grew up in Utrecht, then was sent to Spain in 1679 in the age of 16 in order to…