MAJER (Maier), Friedrich. Koskau bei Schleiz 28.4.1772 — Gera 15.5.1818. German Lawyer and Scholar interested in India. Son of a minister. Studied law at Jena from 1791. He was lawyer in Göttingen and PD at Jena, then living in Weimar, in 1804–05 tutor of the heir-apparent Heinrich LXII of Reuss-Schleiz…
MACKINTOSH, James. Aldourie near Inverness 24.10.1765 — London 30.5.1832. Sir. British (Scottish) Lawyer, Statesman and Historian, Civil Servant in India. Son of Captain John Mackintosh and Marjory MacGillivray (1745?–1775), both of old Highland families, lost early his mother and was raised by his grandmother. Educated at Fortrose and at King’s…
MACKENZIE, Colin. Stornoway, Lewis, Outer Hebrides 1753/54? — Calcutta 8.5.1821. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer and Pioneer of Indology. In India 1782-1821. Son of Murdoch Mackenzie, a merchant, and his wife Barbara. Through a clan connection he obtained the cadetship and left for Madras in 1782. Served first in infantry, 1786…
MACAN, Turner. Kilbrogan, Bandon, county Cork 30.9.1792 — Calcutta 24.7.1836. Irish Colonial Officer and Oriental Scholar in India. Major. Son of Robert Macan (1750–1808) and Hannah Bagwell. The grandfather had simplified his name from McCann to Macan. In 1795 the family moved to Carriff (now Carrive), county Armaghan. Joined army…
LUMSDEN, Matthew. Leochal-Cushnie, Aberdeenshire 1777 — Cheltenham, Gloucester (B) or Tooting Common, Surrey (G & W) 18.3. or 31.3.1835. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of John Lumsden (1727–1795) and Anne Forbes (1734–1811), cousin of —> Harry Burnett Lumsden (1821–1896). Educated at King’s College, Old Aberdeen.…
LITTRÉ, Michel-François. Avranches, Normandy 25.5.1765 — 20.12.1827. French Pioneer of Indology. Son of goldsmith Jean Littré and Marie Anne Liégears (1739–1768). Served in French navy and adopted revolutionary ideas. Then settled in Paris as tax-collector. In order to give good education to his sons he achieved a library and studied…
LEYDEN, John Casper. Denholm, Cavers, Roxburghshire 8.9.1775 — Batavia (Jakarta) 28.8.1811 (or 10.9.?). British (Scottish) Physician and Orientalist, a Pioneer of South-East Asian Studies. Son of John Leyden, a shepherd, and Isabella Scott. He was educated at Kirktown parish school and Edinburgh University, learned Oriental languages already at home in Edinburgh…
LE ROUX DESHAUTESRAYES, Michel-Ange-André (des Hautesrayes, des Hautes-Rayes). Conflans-Sainte-Honorine near Pontoise 10.9.1724 — Rueil Malmaison near Paris 9.2.1795. French Orientalist and Sinologist, a Pioneer of Buddhist Studies. Professor in Paris. Son of Antoine Le Roux Hautesrayes and Catherine Geneviève Fourmont. Through his mother nephew of the Orientalist brothers Etienne and…
LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISSIÈRE, Guillaume-Joseph-Hyacinthe-Jean-Baptiste. Coutances (Manche) 12.9.1725 — Paris 22.10.1792. French Astronomer and Traveller, in India 1768–71. Instead of the planned career in church and studied theology in Paris, but turned to astronomy. Left for India in 1760 in order to observe the transit of Venus in 1761,…
LEBEDEV, Gerasim Stepanovič (Herasim Lebedeff). Jaroslavl 1749 (not 1746) — St.Petersburg 15.7.(27.7.)1817. Russian Musician, Traveller and Pioneer of Indology. Son of Stepan Lebedev and his wife Paraskov’a. Father was a poor Orthodox clergyman, who did not allow him to obtain higher education. The family moved to St.Petersburg, where he studied…