ONDAATJE, Matthew Jurgen. 1??? — 1???. Rev. Dutch Priest in Ceylon and Batavia in the 18th century. Proponent of Colombo, alter clergyman in Batavia. Published Christian works in Sinhalese in the 1780s. There was another, Rev. W. J. Ondaatje, V.D.M., who was Rector of Government Seminary in Colombo around 1770.…
OBRY, Jean-Baptiste-François. Villers-Bretonneux (Somme) 17.9.1793 — 1871. French Literate interested in Indology and Religions. Son of wool merchant Firmin Obry and Marie Floride Debrie. Worked as attorney and judge in Amiens. “Juge honoraire, membre de l’académie d’Amiens”. He was much interested in Hebrew and in the 1830s he invented a…
NYERUP, Rasmus. Syrup, Funen 12.3.1759 — Copenhagen 28.6.1829. Danish Scholar interested in India. Son of Christen Rasmussen, a poor villain, and Karen Simonsdatter. In 1773 came to Odense school, matriculated 1776. Studies of philology and theology at Copenhagen University, M.A. 1784. In 1784-1803 worked in Royal Library, 1796-1829 eo. Professor…
NOVIKOV, Nikolaj Ivanovič. Tihvinskoje-Avdotjino near Bronnicky (SE of Moscow) 8.5.(27.4.)1744 — ibid. 12.8.(31.7.)1818. Russian Literate, one of the leading representatives of Enlightenment in Russia. Born in a noble family, educated in Moscow. After military service in 1762-67 worked in the committee for the renovation of legislature. When this was closed…
NIEBUHR, Carsten. Lüdingworth near Cuxhaven 17.3.1733 — Meldorf, Holstein 26.4.1815. German Traveller, Geographer and Engineer in Danish Service. Son of Barthold Niebuhr (1704–1749), a free farmer, and Caecilie von Duhn (1706–1733). Father’s death interrupted school, but he studied privately mathematics, surveying, and Arabic, then at Göttingen. Selected by J. D.…
NEUMANN, Karl Friedrich (originally Justus Lazarus Bamberger). Reichmannsdorf near Bamberg 28.12.1793 (?) — Berlin 17.3. or 28.3.1870. German Oriental Scholar and Historian. Professor in Munich. Son of a poor Jewish merchant, Lippmann Bamberger, after Jewish school worked himself in the shop. Date of birth is his own statement, which has…
MURRAY, Alexander. Dunkitterick, Kirkcudbrightshire 22.10.1775 — Edinburgh 15.4.1813. British (Scottish) Philologist and Oriental Scholar. Son of Robert Murray, a shepherd and farm labourer. Of modest origin, bur talented, he was admitted to Edinburgh University, although he had hardly any formal education, and thus became a priest. From 1812 Professor of…
MÜLLER, Niklas (Nikolaus). Mainz 6.5.1770 (not 14.5.) — Mainz 14.6.1851. Germain Painter and Scholar. Son of shopkeeper Johann M. and Katharina Erlenbach. Studies at Mainz University, graduated 1788. Worked as theatre painter, accepted with enthusiasm the ideas of French Revolution. In 1793-94 studies in Paris, now became interested in India.…
MOSSEL, Jacob. Enkhuizen 28.11.1704 — Batavia (Jakarta) 15.5.1761. Dutch Colonial Officer in India. Born in a noble family, son of Pieter Jakobsz. Mossel (1670–1723) and Geertruyd Leydecker. From 1721 served in Dutch Coromandel, finally as Governor. After other high positions, in 1750-61 Governor-General of Dutch East Indies. He made a…
MOORCROFT, William. Ormskirk, Lancashire 1765 — Andkhui, Afghanistan 25.8.1825. British Veterinary Surgeon and Traveller in North-West India. Born as illegitimate son of Ann M., daughter of a local farmer, educated in “Liverpool as a surgeon, studied veterinary science in France [Lyon]. Made a fortune by his veterinary practice in London,…