BESCHI, Constantino Gioseffo Eusebio (Constanzo B., Constantinus Beschius, Dhairya Nathan, Vīra-māmuṉivar). Castiglione delle Stiviere near Mantua 8.11.1680 — Ambalakkadu near Cranganore, Kerala 4.2.1747. S.J. Italian Jesuit missionary and Tamil scholar. Nearly 40 years in India. Educated at Jesuit school in Mantua. Novice of S.J. 1698, then studies in Ravenna and…
BERNIER, François. Joué-Étiau (Maine-et-Loire) 26.9.1620 — Dauphine (or Paris?) 22.9.1688. French Physician and Traveller in India. Spent nearly twelve years (1656-68) in India, and was eight years physician at the Mughal court. Son of Pierre Bernier, one of the foremost tenants of the chapter of Angers, and Andrée Grimault. He…
BAYER, Theophilus (Gottlieb) Siegfried. Königsberg 5/6.1.1694 — St.Petersburg 10.2.1738. German Orientalist and Historian, from Königsberg, was elected to the Imperial Russian Academy of Sciences and moved to St.Petersburg. In Russian his name is variously spelled as Beer, Beèr, and Bajer’. Son of painter Johann Friedrich Bayer (1670– after 1738) and…
BAPTISTA, Manuel. 1??? — 1???. Franciscan Missionary in India in the 17th century. Apparently also an architect and worked in Daman. Censor of inquisition. Publications: Author of a Konkani catechism. Sources: Dahlmann 1891, 16; not in the old Franciscan Biobibliography.
BANHA, Manuel Baptista. 1??? — 1???. Father. Portuguese (?) Franciscan Missionary in India, probably in the 17th century. He is mentioned as the author of an unpublished Konkani dictionary, but the manuscript has disappeared. Publications: Apparently nothing is preserved. Sources: Dahlmann 1891, 16, similar brief mention in some more recent…
BALDAEUS, Philippus (Philips Baelde). Delft bapt. 24.10.1632 — Geervliet 1671. Dutch Priest and Traveller. Son of Jan Baelde (1610–1636), a merchant of Flemish origin, and Maria de Jomge (Junius, d. 1636), lost early his parents. After Latin school in Delft studied at Groningen and, in 1650-54, Leiden universities, then joined…
AZEVEDO, Francisco de. Lisbon 1578 — Goa 12.8.1660. S.J. Portuguese Missionary in India and Tibet. Came to India as a boy and never returned. Joined S.J. in Goa, when 19. After studies served at Diu (1614) and Rachol, from 1620 Visitor of Monomotapa Mission in South Africa. In 1627 joined…
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…
BOURGUIGNON D’ANVILLE, Jean-Baptiste (B. Danville). 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…
ANGELUS FRANCISCUS A SANCTA THERESIA. Mondovi 16.9.1650 — Verapoly 17.10.1712. Italian Carmelite Missionary in India. Joined the order in Mondovi in 1666, started for India 1675 and joined the Malabar Mission in Verapoly 1676. From 1700 Bishop of Metellpoly and Apostolic Vicar of Syro-Malabar. The process of his beatification was…