GARCIN DE TASSY, Joseph-Héliodore-Sagesse-Vertu. Marseille 20.1.1794 — Paris 2.9.1878. French Indologist (Hindi-Urdu) and Oriental Scholar. Professor in Paris. Son of Joseph Jacques Garcin, a stockbroker, and Claire Virginie Tassy. Educated in Marseille, where he also learned spoken Arabic. From 1817 studies of law in Paris, at the same time Persian…
FÜHRER, Alois Anton. Limburg an der Lahn 26.11.1853 — Binningen near Basel 5.11.1930. German Indologist and Archaeologist in India. Studies of Catholic Theology and Oriental languages at Würzburg. Ordained priest 1877. Ph.D. 1879 Würzburg (apparently under Jolly), soon to India. After a while as Professor of Sanskrit at St. Xavier…
FRYER, George Edward. India 25.11.1832 — Kensington, London 1891. British Colonial Officer and Pāli Scholar in India and Burma. Son of Colonel George Fryer (1802–1870), of Madras army. School at Rugby, in the age of 20 joined Indian army, and Sarah Moore. Served eight years in regiment and, after a…
FORBES, Duncan. Kinnaird, Pertshire 28.4.1798 — London 17.8.1868. British (Scottish) Oriental Scholar (Persian and Urdū). Born in a poor family, in 1801 remained with his grandfather, when the parents moved to the U.S.A. In the age of 12 he still knew not English (or was illiterate in it), but as…
FERGUSSON, John. 17?? — Cape of God Hope 4.9.1773 (?). British Colonial Officer in India. Captain. The author of the first English Hindustani dictionary in 1773, describing the colloquial speech of soldiers for the use of officers, mixing together different forms of language (but with some preponderance of Magahī). Early…
FALLON, Samuel William. Calcutta 1817 — London 3.10.1880. British Teacher in India, Folklorist and Lexicographer. “Entered the Bengal Education Department in his 20th year, was inspector of schools.” Published famous dictionaries, for which he was conferred a Ph.D. in 1862 at Halle University. Retired in 1878 and resided in Delhi,…
ENTWISTLE, Alan William. Weymouth, Dorsett 10.3.1949 — Seattle 28.3.1996. British Indologist in the U.S.A. Professor in Seattle. Son of W. D. Entwistle and Neta D. Whiles. Studies at University of Southampton (B.A. 1971 in French) and S.O.A.S. (M.A. 1975 in Area Studies). In 1976-78 field-work in Vrindaban, India. Ph.D. 1982…
ELPHINSTONE, Mountstuart. Dumbarton, Scotland 6.10.1779 — Hookwood, Surrey 20.11.1859. British (Scottish) Civil Servant in India. The youngest son of John, the 11th Baron Elphinstone (1737–1794), and Anne Ruthven (1737–1801). Educated in Edinburgh and Kensington. From 1795 writer in E.I.C.’s service, was sent to Benares, where he soon learned Persian and…
EASTWICK, Edward Backhouse. Warfield, Berkshire 13.3.1814 — Ventnor, Isle of Wight 16.7.1883. British Colonial Officer, Diplomat, Indologist and Oriental Scholar (Urdu and Persian). Son of sea-captain Robert William Eastwick (1772–1865) of Bombay Marine and Lucy King (1779–1857), brother of William Joseph E. (1808–1889) of I.C.S. and Council of India. Educated…
DYNOWSKA, Wanda (Umādevī). St.Petersburg 30.6.1888 — Mysore 20.3.1971. Polish Theosophist in India. Born in Russia in a family of Polish nobility, daughter of Eustachy Dynowski and Helena Sokołowska. Grew up mainly in the family estate in present-day Latvia, educated at home. Studied in Cracow and Lausanne, during WW I in…