GOUGH, Richard. London 21.10.1735 — Enfield, Middlesex 20.2.1809. British Antiquarian. Son of Harry Gough (1681–1751), M.P. and Director of E.I.C., and Elizabeth Hynde. Studies at Cambridge (Corpus Christi), 1752-56, without degree. Travelled much in the U.K., but never abroad, from 1774 resided in the family estate in Enfield. F.R.S. 1778.…
GOSSELLIN, Pascal-François-Joseph. Lille 6.12.1751 — Paris 8.2.1830. French Merchant, Geographer and Historian of Geography. Born in a family of merchants, came early into family business. Member of Chambre de commerce in Lille, from 1784 of Conseil royal du commerce for Flanders, Hainaut and Cambrésis. Travelled much in Europe on business.…
GOLDINGHAM, John (born Johannes Guldenheim). London 1767 — Worcester ?.7.1849. British Astronomer in India, also an Architect and Surveyor. Son of Benjamin Guldenheim, of Denmark, and Elizabeth Williams. From 1788 assistant to sailor-astronomer Michael Topping (1747–1796) and thus came to Madras. Succeeded Topping as the astronomer of Madras Observatory and…
GODWIN-AUSTEN, Henry Haversham (until 1854 H. H. Austen). Teignmouth, Devon 6.7.1834 — Godalming, Surrey 2.12.1923. British Colonial Officer and Scientist in India. Son of Robert A. C. Austen (later G.-A.), a geologist, and Maria Godwin. After school at Guildford he went in 1848 to Sandhurst. Entered the army in 1851,…
GODINHO, Manuel. Montalvão 1630 (1632?) — Loures 1712. S.J. Portuguese Priest and Missionary in India. Became novice of the S.J. in Coimbra 1645, joined the Indian mission. In December 1662 left for Portugal by land, visited Persia, Mesopotamia and Syria, and arrived at Cascais in October 1663. Also carried diplomatic…
GLADWIN, Francis. 1744/45? — 1812. British Colonial Officer and Orientalist (Persian Scholar) in India. Served in the Bengal Army at least 30 years, until his death. He was encouraged by Warren Hastings in his study of Oriental languages, mainly worked on Persian literature. From 1801 he was the first Professor…
GIORGI, Antonio Agostino (Augustinus Antonius Georgius; baptized Francesco Maria Giorgi). Santo Mauro di Romagna (near Rimini) 10.5.1711 — Rome 4.5.1797. Italian Monk, Theologian, and Orientalist, a Coptic Scholar and Pioneer of Tibetan Studies. Son of Antonio G. and Antonia Semprini. Augustinian monk since 1727, from 1752 librarian of Biblioteca Angelina…
GILCHRIST, John Borthwick (born John Hay G.). Edinburgh 19.6.1759 — Paris 9.1.1841. British (Scottish) Indologist, a Pioneer of Hindi-Urdu Studies. Son of merchant Walter G. and Henrietta Farquharson, lost his father at the age of one. After school in Edinburgh studies of medicine at George Heriot’s Hospital, Edinburgh. Joined the…
GERARD, James Gilbert. Aberdeen 1795 — Sabathu (Himachal Pradesh) 31.3.1835. British (Scottish) Military Physician and Explorer in India. Son of Gilbert G. (1760–1815), D.D., and Helen Duncan, brother of —> Alexander Gerard and —> Patrick Gerard. Entered Bengal Medical Service in 1814 as assistant surgeon, 1826 surgeon, served in the…
GENTIL, Jean Baptiste Joseph. Bagnols (Rhône) 25.6.1726 — Bagnols-sur-Cèze (Rhône) 15.2.1799. French Officer in India. Born in a noble family, joined the army and went out to India in 1752 as officer in an infantry regiment. “Served with distinction under Dupleix, Law of Lauriston, Lally, etc. After the collapse of…