GEMINIANUS A SANCTA OCTAVIA (wrongly Gemignanus a Sancto Octavio, Gemignano Da Sant’ Ottavio). Modena 1702? — on sea near Corfu, January 1763. Italian Carmelite Missionary in South India. Joined the Mahe Mission in 1733, in 1733-35 served in Verapoly, 1735-41 in again Mahe. Probably came to Europe in 1741, 1743…
GEMELLI CARERI (G. CARRERI), Giovanni Francesco. Radicena, Terranova 1651 (1661?) — Naples 25.7.1725. Italian Traveller. Studies at a Jesuit college in Naples (Dr.iuris). Worked as magistrate in Naples and in 1685-87 travelled in Europe. In 1693 started a voyage round the world, during which he visited India in 1695. The…
GALANOS, Demetrios (Dimitrios G., Δημήτριος Γαλανός). Athens 1760 — Varanasi 3.5.1833. Greek Indologist in India. Son of Pantaleon and Diamanta Galanos, a wealthy Athenian family, educated in Athens, Patmos and Constantinople, where his uncle had a high ecclesiatic position. Himself rejected the priestly career. In 1786 he came to India…
FUGLSANG, Niels Studsgaard. Holeby, Laaland (Lolland) 19.11.1759 — Slagelse, Sorø 29.12.1832. Danish Priest in India. Son of Herman Fuglsang (1700–1777), a vicar, and Lucie Abelone Studsgaard. After school in Aalborg studied from 1778 philology, medicine and theology at Copenhagen. Ordained priest 1792. Minister of the Danish Lutheran congregation in Trankebar…
FRYER, John. 1650? — London 31.3.1733. British Physician and Traveller in India and Iran. Son of William Fryer, of London. Studies of medicine at Cambridge, first at Trinity College, in 1671 moved to Pembroke College. M.B. 1671, M.D. 1683. Employed by E.I.C. embarked to India in 1672, returned after many…
FRASER, James. 1713 — Easter Moniack, Inverness-shire 21.1.1754. British (Scottish) Factor in India, Historian and Manuscript Collector. Son of Alexander Fraser (d. 1733) of Reelick near Inverness. Residing in Surat in 1730-40 he is said to have learned Sanskrit and Avestan (at least he knew Persian). Back in England started…
FRANK, Othmar (born Johann Georg Frank). Bamberg 8.5.1770 — Vienna 16.9.1840. German Pioneer of Indology. Professor in Munich. Son of Konrad Frank, a master tailor, and Maria-Anna Köberlein. After school in Bamberg he entered the Benedictine monastery of Banz near Bamberg (now taking the new name Othmar Frank), and was…
FRANCKLIN, William. 1763 — 12.4.1839. British Colonial Officer and Historian in India. Son of Thomas Fr. (1721–1784), an academic clergyman, and his wife, née Venables. Educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. Cadet of E.I.C. 1782, joined the Bengal Native Infantry in 1783. In 1786 travelled in Iran, resided 8…
FORSTER, Johann Reinhold. Dirschau, West Prussia (now Tczew in Poland) 22.10.1729 — Halle 9.12.1798. German Scientist. Son of George Reinhold Forster (1693–1753), a mayor, of an originally Scottish family (Forrester) emigrated to Germany in the mid-17th century, and Eva Wolf. After theology studies at Halle started his career as an…
FORSTER, Johann Georg Adam (George Forster). Nassenhuben near Danzig (now Mokry Dwór in Poland) 27.11.1754 — Paris 10.1.1794. German Scientist, Author and Traveller interested in India. The eldest son of —> Reinhold Forster (1729–1798) and Justine Elisabeth Nicolai. As a youth travelled with his father in 1765 in Russia and…