BACOT, Jacques. St.-Germain-en-Laye (Indre) 4.7.1877 — Paris 25.6.1965. French Traveller and Tibetologist. Born in a family of cloth merchants, son of Raymond Bacot (1843–1917) and Marie Louise Bapterosses. With father and grandfather, who were experienced travellers, he himself made a journey round the world in 1904. In 1907 he conducted…
BABINGTON, Benjamin Guy. London 5.3.1794 — London 5/8.4.1865. British Physician interested in Tamil Language and Literature. Son of a London physician, William Babington (1756–1833, of Irish origin), and Martha Elizabeth Hough. Educated at Charterhouse 1803-07. He served in the navy until 1810, got then an appointment in India and went…
AZEVEDO, Francisco de. Lisbon 1578 — Goa 12.8.1660. S.J. Portuguese Missionary in India and Tibet. Came to India as a boy and never returned. Joined S.J. in Goa, when 19. After studies served at Diu (1614) and Rachol, from 1620 Visitor of Monomotapa Mission in South Africa. In 1627 joined…
AVERY, John. Conway, Mass. 18.9.1837 — North Bridgetown, Maine 1.9.1887. U.S. Indologist, Linguist and Ethnologist. Professor of Classics in U.S. Universities. Son of Joseph Avery (1789–1870) and Sylvia Clary (1793–1851), lost rather early his parents. Graduated 1861 from Amherst College, then further studies at the Leicester Academy (Mass.) in 1861-62.…
AUFRECHT, Simon Theodor. Leschnitz, Upper Silesia (now Leśnica, Poland) 7.1.1822 (1821?) — Bonn 3.4. 1907. German Indologist. Professor in Edinburgh and Bonn. Born in a Jewish merchant family, took later Christianity. Gymnasium in Oppeln, where he already became interested in Old German. In 1843 started the study of Classical Philology…
ATKINSON, Robert. Gateshead, Yorkshire 6.4.1839 — Rathmines near Dublin 10.1.1908. British Linguist (IE, Celtic and Sanskrit Scholar) in Ireland. Professor in Dublin. Born in Yorkshire as the only child of businessman John Atkinson and his wife Ann. Educated at Anchorage grammar school in Yorkshire. Studies at Trinity College in Dublin…
ASSUMPÇAM, Manoel da (Assumpção). Évora 16?? — 17??. Portuguese Priest, Augustinian Monk, and Missionary in India, author of a Bengali grammar and dictionary, published in Lisboa in 1743. From 1725 Rector of Missão de S. Nicolau in Bhaeai, Bengal (now in Bangladesh), where he remained many years. In the library…
ASSIER DE POMPIGNAN, Raoul-Henri. Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines) 2.6.1862 — Toulouse (or Paris?) 11.12.1947. French Naval Officer interested in Indology. Son of Adrien Assier de P. and Marie Gastel. In 1884 graduated from École navale. In 1909 naval lieutenant, in the 1920s captain of frigate, in the 1930s retired, living in Tamaris-sur-Mer…
ASCOLI, Graziadio Isaia. Gorizia 16.7.1829 — Milano 21.1.1907. Italian (Jewish) Linguist. Professor in Milano. Born in a rich Jewish merchant family in Görz, then of Austria (now Gorizia in Italy) as the son of Leone Flaminio Ascoli (died early) and Elena Norsa. Never went to school, but was tutored by…
ARROWSMITH, Robert. Brooklyn, N.Y. 23.11.1860 — 1.6.1928. U.S. Linguist and Classical Scholar interested in Sanskrit. Son of Milton John Arrowsmith and Phebe Wood Platt. Studies at Columbia University: A.B. 1882, A.M. 1883, Ph.D. 1884; University Fellow in 1882-83 and 1885-86. In 1884-85 further studies at Berlin University. Assistant in Modern…