FORBES (FORBES-LESLIE), Jonathan. 21.2.1798 — 23.12.1877. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer. Son of John F. and Anne Margaret Gregory. Arrived at Ceylon as a young officer of 78th Highlanders in 1826, remained until 1837 advancing to Major. Then Lieutenant-Colonel, some years served in India 1842–4?, retired before 1850. Later on lived…
FINZI, Felice. Correggio (Reggio Emilia) 1847 — Florence 3.9.1872. Italian (Jewish) Ethnologist and Assyriologist. Of an old Italian Jewish family. Studies of law at Bologna, dr.iuris c. 1867. From 1869 libero docente di assiriologia at Regio Istituto di Studii Superiori in Florence. Knew also Hebrew and Sanskrit. Married, two sons.…
FINEGAN, Jack. Des Moines, Iowa 11.7.1908 — Oakland, Calif. 15.7.2000. U.S. Archaeologist and Scholar of the Bible and Religion. Studied at Drake University (B.A. 1928, M.A. 1929, B.D. 1930) and Colgate Rochester Divinity School (B.D. 1931, M.Th. 1932). Professor at Iowa State University in Ames, then Professor of New Testament…
FLEX, Oscar (Oskar). 1840? — 1???. German. In a tea plantation in Assam in 1864-67, then returned to Berlin. One source mentions him as Superintendent of East-India Tea Company. Note that there were two Germans of the same name at the same time in different parts of India and they…
FLEX, Oscar (Oskar) Theodor. Dubrau, Oberspreewald-Lausitz 27.8.1840 — 19??. Rev. German Missionary in India. From Silesia. From 1861 in Gossner Mission in Ranchi, working with Kurukh (Oraon). In 1869 ordained priest and married Antonie Flex, children. In 1877 joined Gospel Propagation Society. Later in Europe (1881), then in West Indies.…
FERRARI, Alfonsa. Aquila 1.11.1918 — 1.1.1954. Italian Indologist. Professor in Rome. Grew up in Milano, studied in Rome, graduated in 1941 under Formichi and 1945 under Tucci (Indian religion and philosophy). From 1945 assistente straordinario di sanscrit. In 1946 and 1947-48 further studies of Buddhism, Tibetan and Sanskrit literature in…
FERRAR, Michael Lloyd. Coleraine, Londonderry 1839 — 1904. British (Irish) Civil Servant in India. Son of Michael Lloyd Ferrar (1799–1884), a cavalry officer of Indian army, and Mary Minchin (1806–1858). Joined I.C.S. 1861, arrived in India 1863, retired 1899 and returned to the U.K. In 1871 served in Seetapore, Audh.…
FERNANDEZ TRACOSCO, Gonçalo. 1541 — 1619/21. Father. Portuguese Jesuit in India. Arrived in India in 1560 as a soldier, but soon turned to religion and joined the S.J. In charge of the Mission in Madurai from 1595, he became Roberto De Nobili’s superior, but strongly opposed to the new methods…
FERGUSON, William. Urquhart and Logie Wester, Ross-shire 18.7.1820 — Colombo 31.7.1887. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Botanist in Sri Lanka. Son of John Ferguson and Ann Mackerras, brother of —> Alastair M. Ferguson (1816–1892). Joined C.C.S. in 1839. Beside botany he was also interested in herpetology and entomology. Married 1852…
FERGUSON, Alastair Mackenzie. Urquhart and Logie Wester (Cannon Bridge?), Rossshire 25.1.1816 — Colombo 26.12.1892. British (Scottish) Journalist in Sri Lanka. Son of John Ferguson and Ann Mackerras, brother of —> William Ferguson (1820–1887). Came to Ceylon in 1837 in the staff of Governor J. A. Stewart Mackenzie. Worked as planter,…