BLAU, August. Mittelhausen, Erfurt 8.3.1858 — Landsberg an der Warthe (now Gerzów Wielkopolski) 11.7.1926. German Indologist. Librarian in Berlin. Studies at Jena, 1883 Ph.D. in classical philology. In 1883-84 assistant (Volontär) in Breslau University Library, then at Göttingen University Library, from 1892 Librarian of Berlin University Library (succeeding Klatt), from…
BLATT, Heinrich. Steinbach am Glan in Nordpfälzer Bergland 10.3.1894 — Erlangen 1.4.1949. German Indologist. Librarian in Würzburg. After gymnasium in Speyer studies of classical, Germanic and IE philology at Munich, Leipzig, Berlin and Würzburg. Ph.D. 1923 Erlangen. From 1923-46 he was working at University Library (Staatsbibliothek an der Universitätsbibliothek) in Würzburg,…
BLATT, Gustaw (Gerszon). Jarosław in South-Eastern Poland 15.2.1858 — Lwów (L’viv) 17.9.1916. Polish Linguist (IE and Slavic). From 1879 studies of classical and Slavic philology at Cracow, student of Lucjan Malinowski. Ph.D. there 1893. Further studies of IE and Sanskrit at Leipzig under Brugmann, Windisch and Leskien. Teacher at Jewish…
BLAQUIERE, William Coates. 1759 (?) — Calcutta 14.8.1853. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Jacques/Jacob Blaquiere (1726–1791). Came to India with his merchant father in 1777. He is said then to be of 13, which makes the year of birth too early (note also the late death). Worked then…
BLAND, Nathaniel (born Nathaniel Crumple). Liverpool 3.2.1803 — Bad Homburg, Hessen, Germany 10.8.1865. British Oriental (Persian) Scholar. Son of the elder Nathaniel Bland (Crumple, 1765–1840), who was of Irish origin, but had changed his name and settled at Randalls Park in Leatherfield, and Arabella O’Neil. Educated at Eton (1818-) and…
BIRD, James. 1797 — Gerrard Cross, Buckinghamshire 10.7.1864. British Physician in India interested in Archaeology, Epigraphy and Numismatics. Educated from 1810 at King’s College, Aberdeen, M.A. 1814, then at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals. Dr. med. 1816. From 1818 served in Bombay Presidency, first as assistant surgeon. In 1826-32 residency…
BIESE, Yrjö Moses Jalmari. Helsinki 4.1.1903 — Helsinki 7.11.1983. Finnish Indologist and Linguist (Classical Philology and English). Professor in Turku. Son of Ernst Hjalmar Biese (1864–1925), a procurator, and Helmi Katarina Ahlman, a painter. Matriculated 1921 from Helsingin Normaalilyseo. Studies of classical and modern languages and Sanskrit at Helsinki: Kand.phil.…
BIDDULPH, John. Ledbury, Hereforshire 25.7.1840 — Gray Court, London 31.12.1921. British Colonial Officer and Anthropologist in India. Son of Robert Biddulph (1801–1864, a Whig M.P.) and Elizabeth Palmer (1805–1899), educated at Westminster School. He “entered the Bengal Cavalry and arrived in India 1858. Served in the mutiny, joined the Indian…
BIČURIN, Iakinf (Hyacinth, Chin. Yíāqīntè Bǐqiūlí, originally Nikita Jakovlevič Bičurin). Akulevo, Tsivil’skij district, Kazan Province 29.8.(19.9.)1777 — St.Petersburg 11.(23.)5.1853. Russian (Čuvaš) Monk, Orthodox Priest, Sinologist and Central Asian Scholar. Son of Jakov, a deacon, and Akulina Stepanovna. From 1786 studied theology and languages at Kazan Ecclesiastical Academy, graduated 1799, then…
BIANCHI, Ugo. Cavriglia, Arezzo 13.10.1922 — Firenzuola, Florence 14.4.1995. Italian Scholar of Iranian Religion. Son of a parastatal employee, grew up in Rome. Studies of classical philology, ancient history and especially History of Religions at Sapienza in Rome under Pettazzoni. Ph.D. 1944. In 1952-56 member of Istituto italiano per la…