ROBERTSON, Elphinstone Pourtales. 1831 — Middlesex 30.1.1912. British Civil Servant in India. Educated at Haileybury. Joined the service and arrived at Bombay in 1851, worked in Surat, Ahmedabad, Colaba, etc. in Gujarat, from 1869 in Dharwar. From 1876 Revenue and Police Commissioner for Southern Division, 1878 Commissioner of Central Division.…
ROBERTS, Hugh. Pontyraran, Dolgellau, Merionethshire 23.6.1841 — Ruabon near Wrexham 1916. Rev. British (Welsh) Missionary in India. Son of Robert Roberts. Ordained priest 1865, a Calvinistic Methodist. Arrived in India with his wife in 1866, worked as teacher in Sylhet (hills and plain) until 1876. Then retired and returned to…
ROBERTS, Roger Elliot. 1753? — London 9.8.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. As Major in 1777 visited Burma, in the mid-1780s called Persian interpreter. In 1798 Lieutenant-Colonel, 180? Colonel. Retired (1800?), in 1815 living in London. Member of Asiatic Society (1802/10) and Royal Society (1801-31). Also knew Hindustani. According to…
RICHARDSON, David Thomas. Langholm, Dumfriesshire 176? — on sea ?.11.1808. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of Gilbert Richardson (1722–1783) and Susanna Scott (d. 1775). Like several of his brothers he went to India as cadet in 1779. Learned soon Persian and Hindustani. In 1799 came to England accompanied by…
RICCAZ, Alexis. Saint-Jean-d’Arves (Savoie) 26.1.1834 — Jabalpur 8.9.1892. Monseigneur. French Catholic Missionary in India. Ordained in 1861 as priest of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales d’Annecy and arrived in India next year. Worked first in Visakhapatnam, where he quickly learned Telugu and Oṛiyā. From 1887 Monseigneur and the first…
RIBBACH, Samuel Heinrich. Hebron, Labrador 10.2.1863 — 31.5.1943. German Missionary. In 1892-1913 served Moravian Mission in Lahul and later in Leh, Ladakh, to 1927. Back in Germany worked worked in Museum für Völkerkunde in Hamburg. Publications: An den Grenzen Tibets Bilder aus der Himalaya-Mission der Brüdergemeine. Herrnhut 1900, 2nd ed. 64 p.…
RHEEDE TOT DRAKENSTEIN, Hendrik Adrian van. Utrecht 13.4.1636 — on sea off Bombay 15.12.1691. Dutch Colonial Administrator and Botanist. Son of Ernst van Rheede (1588–1640), Council at the Admiralty in Amsterdam, and Elisabeth van Utenhove (d. 1637), a noble family, lost early his both parents. In 1656 joined Dutch E.I.C. as a soldier…
REYNOLDS, M. C. 1??? — 1???. Mrs. “An old resident”. We may perhaps conclude that she was married with an officer or civil servant and therefore probably a Britishwoman. Publications: Household Hindustani. A Manual for New-comers, Specially Adapted for Ladies’ use. 2+69 p. Calcutta 1886 and several editions. Sources: She seems to be…
RANKING, George Speirs Alexander. Hastings, Sussex 1.1.1852 — Caversham, Berkshire 14.6.1934. British Physician and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of Robert Ranking (1785–1867) and Isabella Spiers (1810–1883). Educated at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire and St.Catharine’s College in Cambridge, studied medicine in London. In 1875-1905 in Indian Medical Service, finally as Lieutenant-Colonel. M.A.…
RAMSAY, Horatio Nelson. London 13.12.1805 — Malligaum, New South Wales 20.5.1846. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Thomas Ramsay and Jane Sills. Served in Bombay Native Infantry, later went to Australia. Captain (from 1823 until death). Died of cholera. Married 1827 Catherine Turner (1810–1876), four daughters and four sons.…