VASMER, Rihard Vil’gelm (Georg Rihardovič, Richard Wilhelm Georg Vasmer). St.Petersburg 9/21.10.1888 — Taškent 22.2.1938.Russian Numismatist and Oriental Scholar. Born in a Lutheran family of German background, son of Richard Julius Friedrich Vasmer und Amalia Maria Julia Schaub. Educated in St.Petersburg. From 1906 studies of Arabic, Persian and Turkish at Leipzig…
VALENTIJN, François (Franciscus). Dordrecht 17.4.1666 — the Hague 6.8.1727. Dutch Priest and Naturalist. Son of school director Abraham V. and Maria Rijsbergen. Studied theology and philosophy at Leiden and Utrecht. From 1684 spent 16 years as minister in Dutch Indonesia, mainly in Ambon, where he befriended with Rumphius. After ten…
VAILLANT, Louis Auguste André Marie. Paris 26.11.1876 — Arras (Pas-de-Calais) 18.2.1963. French Army Physician, Naturalist and Explorer. Son of Léon Louis Vaillant (1834–1914), Professor of Zoology, and Henriette Jeanne Hovius. Studied medicine at Bordeaux, graduated 1902 and became physician in French colonial army. In 1906-08 he travelled with Pelliot and Nouette…
VALENTINE, William H. 1856 — 1927. British Numismatist. Apparently a layman without academic or official position. Publications: The Copper Coins of India. 1. Muhammadan Coins. 271 p. 2. The Panjab and Contiguous Native States. 78 p. 68 pl. L. 1914–21. – Sasanian Coins. 118 p. L. 1921. – Bombay, Rājputāna, Central India. 8+390 p. 26…
USBORNE, Charles Frederick. London 18.2.1874 — 6.11.1919. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Thomas Usborne (1838–1898), a businessman, and Agnes Elizabeth Gibbs. Studies at Balliol College, Oxford. Rejected by army because of his modest height he joined I.C.S. in 1898. Finally Deputy Commissioner of Hissar (Haryana). He suffered of…
UPJOHN, Aaron. 17?? — 1???. British Printer in India. Arrived at Calcutta in 1785 as ship’s musician (bassoon player). There he became printer and part owner of the Calcutta Chronicle. Bankrupt in 1792. He printedthe very first Bengali–English dictionary ever published in his own name, but it is claimed that the real…
TUFNELL, Robert Hutchinson Campbell (Tuffnell). 1852 — 1908. British Colonial Officer in South India. Son of Thomas Robert Tufnell, a businessman, and Frances Howard Hutchinson. Captain (1888), served mainly in South India. Participated in Afghan wars. Retired as Major. Married 1878 Mary Anne Luard Smith (b. 1858), two sons. Publications: “On a Collection…
TRAILL, John. Brechin, Angus 4.7.1841 — Udaipur 21.9.1909. Rev. British (Scottish) Missionary in India. Ordained 1869. From 1872 worked in Jaipur for the United Free Church of Scotland. Married Janet Kirk (d. 1876), four daughters (two twins) and one son. Publications: “Dadu, Dadupanthis”, E.R.E. 4, 1911, 385f. Sources: myheritage and other stray notes…
TRACY, James Edward. Tamil Nadu 4.7.1850 — Kodaikanal 4.8.1923. Rev. U.S. Missionary in South India. Son of Rev. William Tracy (1807–1877), of the Madura Mission, and Emily Frances Travelli (1811–1979). Studied in the U.S.A., M.A. Married 1877 before going to India, arrived there just before his father’s death Like his father…
TOWERS, Robert Mason. Ireland 29.6.1840 — Cambridge 16.4.1907. British Civil Servant in India. Studies at Trinity College, Dublin (M.A.), then in I.C.S. From 1874 Judge in Bhagalpur and Monghyr. Retired. From 1888 Professor of Bengali at King’s College, London and 1888-1907 taught Bengali at Cambridge (at Caius College, M.A. there…