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…
KNOX, Robert. London 8.2.1641 — Wimbledon, London 19.6.1720. British (Scottish) Traveller. In South Asia in 1657-94 (1659-79 prisoner in Ceylon). Son of Robert Knox, a Puritan and commander in E.I.C.’s service. Grew up in Wimbledon, Surrey. After mother’s death sailed with his father in January 1657 to Fort George. On…
KIRCHER, Athanasius. Geisa near Fulda 2.5.1602 — Rome 27.11.1680. Father. S.J. German Polyhistor and Oriental Scholar, a Pioneer of Coptology, a Precursor of Egyptology, a Sinologist, etc. Son of Johann K., Doctor of Divinity and teacher of Benedictines. Novice of S.J. 1618 in Paderborn, took his first vows 1620. In…
KETELAAR, Joan Josua (Johann Joshua K., Kettler, Kessler). Elbing, East Prussia (now Elbląg in Poland) 1659 — Bandar Abbas 1716. German Traveller. Son of Josua Kettler, a bookbinder, apprenticed to the same craft, but accused for stealing and attempted murder of his master had to escape to Stockholm. From 1682…
HYDE, Thomas. Billingsley near Bridgnorth, Shropshire 29.6.1636 — Oxford 18.2.1703. Rev. English Oriental (Arabic and Persian) Scholar, a Pioneer of Zoroastrian Studies. Professor in Oxford. Son of Rev. Ralph Hyde, the learned vicar of Billingsley, and Anne Jennings, educated at Eton. In the age of 16 began Arabic studies at…
HOUTMAN, Frederick de. Gouda 1571 — Alkmaar 21.10.1627. Dutch Traveller. Son of Pieter Cornelisz de Houtman, a brewer, and Agnes Frederiksd., younger brother of —> Cornelis de Houtman (1565–1599) and his companion in Lisbon and in Asian voyages. When the brother was killed he remained alive and was 26 months…
HOFFMANN, Johann Christian. Bischhausen bei Eschwege, Hessen 1651 — Heckershausen bei Kassel 1682. German Priest and Traveller in India. Studied theology. In his voyage 1671-76 he visited Cape Colony, Mauritius, India and Indonesia, in a Dutch East Indian Company’s ship. Back in Germany he was preacher in Heckerhausen. Publications: Oost-Indianische…
HERBERT, Thomas. York 1606 — York 1.3.1682. Sir, First Baronet. British Traveller in Persia and India. Son of Christopher Herbert, a merchant, and Jane Akroyd, of an old Yorkshire family related to the Earls of Pembroke. Perhaps studied at both Oxford and Cambridge. In 1627 he joined the suite of…
HAWKINS, William (Hawkyns). 15?? — autumn 1613. British Traveller. Of unknown origin, probably not the same as W. Hawkins, the nephew of Sir John Hawkins, who in 1582 sailed to the east under Edward Fenton (but only reached Brazil). Our W. Hawkins had been in the East before as he…