ASSUMPÇAM, Manoel da (Assumpção). Évora 16?? — 17??. Portuguese Priest, Augustinian Monk, and Missionary in India, author of a Bengali grammar and dictionary, published in Lisboa in 1743. From 1725 Rector of Missão de S. Nicolau in Bhaeai, Bengal (now in Bangladesh), where he remained many years. In the library…
ARANY, János. Nagyszalonta (now Salonta in Romania) 2.3.1817 — Budapest 22.10.1882. Hungarian Poet. Son of György Arany and Sára Megyeri. After a chequered early life he was teacher at a gymnasium in Nagykőrös from 1850, from 1860 in Budapest. 1865 secretary of the Hungarian Academy, retired in 1877. Married 1840…
BOURGUIGNON D’ANVILLE, Jean-Baptiste. Paris 11.7.1697 — Paris 28.1.1782. French Cartographer, Geographer and Historian of Geography. Son of Hubert Bourguignon, a tailor, and Charlotte Vaugon. Student of abbé de Longerue. One of the Royal Geographers at the age of 22 (1719). In 1754 member of A.I.B.L., 1773 of Académie des Sciences.…
ANTON, Konrad Gottlob. Lauban, Oberlausitz (Lubań in Poland) 29.11.1745 — Dresden 4.7.1814. German Oriental Scholar and Linguist. Professor at Wittenberg. In one source (Gel. T.) born in 1743. Son of Konrad Anton, a belter, and Maria Magdalene Zimmer. Studies at Leipzig. From 1775 Professor of Oriental (i.e. Semitic) Languages at…
ANQUETIL-DUPERRON, Abraham Hyacinthe. Paris 7.12.1731 — Paris 18.1.1805. French Orientalist, Pioneer of Iranian and Indian Studies. Travelled in India 1755-61, then member of the A.I.B.L. in Paris. He was the son of a spice merchant from Paris, Pierre Anquetil, and Angélique Coignard, and brother of historian Louis-Pierre Anquetil (1723-1806). He…
ANKER, Peter (until 1788 Ancher). Fredrikshald 31.7.1744 — Øraker near Kristiania (Oslo) 17.4.1832. Norwegian Colonial Officer in Danish service in India. Son of trader and industrialist Erik Ancher (1709–1785) and Anne Cathrine Tank (1723–1761), brother of politician Carsten Tank Anker (1747–1824). In 1759-65 travelled with his brother in Europe, then…
ANGELUS FRANCISCUS A SANCTA THERESIA. Mondovi 16.9.1650 — Verapoly 17.10.1712. Italian Carmelite Missionary in India. Joined the order in Mondovi in 1666, started for India 1675 and joined the Malabar Mission in Verapoly 1676. From 1700 Bishop of Metellpoly and Apostolic Vicar of Syro-Malabar. The process of his beatification was…
ANDERSON, Robert. 1792 — March 1843. Rev. British Civil Servant and Tamil Scholar in India, Madras Presidency. Born of a wealthy family, educated at Harrow and Haileybury. Learned Sanskrit, Persian and Bengali at East India College, went to India, but after nine years was forced to return in 1819 because…
AMADUZZI, Giovanni Cristofano (Johannes Christophorus Amadutius). Savignano di Romagna 18.8.1740 — Rome 21.1.1792. Italian Classical and Oriental Scholar. Educated at the Episcopal Seminary in Rimini. Joined the Minorite order. In 1762 he came to Rome, and began the study of Oriental languages. From 1769 Professor of Greek at Archiginnasio della…
ÁLVAREZ, Simão. 16?? — 17??. Father. S.J. Portuguese Clergyman in India. He was Provincial in Goa (1639), and thus the work could possibly be posthumously published. But as Pereira calls him “Goan Brahmin” he was perhaps local convert named after the Jesuit. In the Vocabulario he was assisted by his…