PIMENTA, Nicolaus. 1546 — Goa 1614. S.J. Portuguese Missionary in India. Joined Jesuits 1562. As Jesuit Visitor in India in December 1597 left Goa for Cochin, St. Thome and Bengal. His letters contain some interesting information about the princes of Kerala and Tamilnadu. Publications: A few letters sent to the…
PEREIRA, Jacinto (Hyacinth). Malaga 1598 — Bajaim 23.11.1657. S.J. Portuguese Priest in India. Director of Goan Seminar and parish priest of Benaulim. Publications: Annuas literas ex Malabaria anni 1621. Sources: Jöcher 3; in Internet often mentioned as baptizng St. Joseph Vaz in Benaulim in 1651, but nothing beyond this.
VEYSSIÈRE DE LACROZE, Mathurin (M. V. de La Croze). Nantes 4.12.1661 — Berlin 21.5.1739. French Oriental Scholar and Polyhistor. Son of a rich merchant, he left school and went to the colony of Guadeloupe to learn trade. Back in Nantes (1677) and after the bankruptcy of his father studied medicine…
ZIEGENBALG, Bartholomäus. Pulsnitz, Saxony 14.6.1683 (or 10.6.1682?) — Tranquebar, India 23.2.1719. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology (Tamil Scholar). In South India 1706-19. Son of the elder B.Z. (d. 1694), a modest grain merchant, and Maria Brückner (d. 1692). After gymnasium in Görlitz and Berlin, studied one year under A.…
XAVIER, Jerónimo (J. Javier, Hieronymus Xaverius, Jerónimo de Ezpeleta y Goñi). Buro, Diocese of Pamplona, Navarra 1549 — Goa 27.6.1617. S.J. Spanish Missionary in India. Grand-nephew of —> Francisco X., son of Miguel de Ezpeleta. Joined S.J. in Alcalá in 1568, studied there and in Toledo. Ordained priest 1575. In…
ORVILLE, Albert d’ (Le Comte d’Orville, Dorville). Brussels 12.8.1621 — Agra 8.4.1662. S.J. Belgian Missionary. Son of a nobleman, Louis Le Comte, seigneur d’Orville, and Anna Hellincx. Joined Jesuits in 1646 and studied at Ingolstadt and Louvain. He volunteered to China Mission and was ordained in 1654, then prepared in…
ORAZIO DELLA PENNA DI BILLI, Francesco (Franciscus Horatius a Pennabilli; lay conte Luzio Olivieri). Pennabilli, Marche 1680 — Patan, Nepal 20.7.1745. Count. Italian Capuchin Missionary in Tibet. Born as an Italian nobleman, son of count Orazio Olivieri and his wife Francesca, joinedCapuchins in 1700.As a member of the Capuchin Tibetan Mission…
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 returned to Agra. Publications: A few letters. Sources:…
ÓLAFSSON, Jón (Jan), called Bøsseskytte and Indíafari. “Svarthamri í Álftafirði við Ísafjarðardjúp” 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. In 1616 joined army in Copenhagen. In 1622 left for India…
NIEUHOFF, Johan. Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim (Germany) 22.7.1618 — Madagascar 8.10.1672. Dutch Traveller in India in the middle of the 17th century. Son of the mayor of Uelsen. In 1640-49 in Brazil during the Dutch attempt to establish a colony there, then in the service of Dutch East India Company. Resided…