PEZZONI, Antonino. Lodi, Lombardy 19.11.1777 — Lugano 4.10.1844. O.F.M.Cap. Italian Capuchin Missionary in India. Monsignore. Vicar Apostolic of Tibet-Hindustan in Agra and Titular Bishop of Esbus (Esbona, Hesbon) in 1826-42, then retired after more than 35 years’ service in India and returned to Italy. Publications: Grammatica italiana e indostana. 462 p.…
PETZOLD, Bruno. Breslau 3.8.1873 — Karnizawa 1949. German Journalist and Buddhist Priest in Japan. Studies of economics at Leipzig and Berlin. Worked as newspaper correspondent in Paris and London in 1896/1902-07. In 1908 he went to China to work in the German-language Tagblatt für Nord China and 1910 to Japan. Wrote…
PETZ, Gideon. Harka, Sopron dt. 24.11.1863 — Budapest 21.12.1943. Hungarian Linguist. Studies at Budapest, Freiburg i. Br., Leipzig and Berlin, 1881-87. Ph.D. Teacher at Lutheran gymnasium in Budapest. At Budapest University: PD 1887, ao. Professor 1896, ord. 1904, of German Philology. Member of Hungarian Academy: correspondent 1895, ord. 1920, honorary 1934.…
PERREAUX, Paul-Florentin-Marie. Paris 15.1.1807 — Pondichéry 7.6.1869. French Teacher in India. Son of Jean François Perreaux and Marie Jeanne Pouillard. Professor of mathematics at Collège royal de Pondichéry (from before 1838), in 1842 also its director. In 1857/68 mentioned as notary in Pondichéry. Married 1833 Charlotte Mathilde Jame (1812–1853), four…
PERCIVAL (Perceval), Robert. 1765 — 1826. British Colonial Officer. Joined the 18th Irish Infantry Regiment in the U.K., as Captain in 1795-97 participated in the conquest of Dutch Capeland. In 1797 to Ceylon, where he remained three years. His both books are said to be full of description of the…
PERCIVAL, Peter. Prestwich, Lancashire 24.7.1803 — Yercaud (Eṟkāṭu), Salem dt. 11.7.1882. Rev. British Missionary and Indologist (Tamil Scholar) in Sri Lanka and India. Son of Peter and Jane Percival. In 1826 Wesleyan Methodist Mission sent him to Jaffna, worked there until 1829 and after a few years in Bengal in…
PENKA, Karl. Müglitz, Moravia (now Mohelnice, Czechia) 26.10.1847 — Vienna 10.2.1912. Austrian Anthropologist, Linguist and Aryan Enthusiast. Educated in Vienna, studies of anthropology and comparative linguistics at Vienna. In 1873-1906 schoolteacher (professor) at Maximiliansgymnasium in Vienna. He connected linguistics with ethnology equating language groups with supposed human races. Propagated a…
PEARSON, John. Calcutta 1790 — 1831. British Missionary in India. Worked for London Missionary Society in Bengal (1823 in Chinsura). Publications: A School Dictionary, English–Bengali. Calcutta 1829. Sources: A. K. Biswas, “Rammohun Roy, his intellectual compatriots and their scientific contributions”, Indian Journal of History of Science 46.3, 2011, 427-481 (briefly on p. 450).
PEARSE, George Godfrey. Berhampore, Murshidabad dt., West Bengal (or Madras?) 4.1.1827 — Shanklin, Isle of Wight (or London?) 5.12.1905. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India, noted as a Numismatist. Son of Dr. George Pearse (1797–1880), a physician from Edinburgh, and Anne Sarah McCulloch. Served in South India from 1844, in…
PAWSEY, Charles Ridley. Surbiton, Surrey 14.7.1894 — Badingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk 21.7.1972. Sir. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Charles James Pawsey (1844–1921), a paymaster of Royal Navy, and Ellen Edith Offord. After Berkhamsted School studies at Wadham College, Oxford (B.A.). Served as officer in WW I and joined I.C.S. in…