FRANK, Othmar (born Johann Georg Frank). Bamberg 8.5.1770 — Vienna 16.9.1840. German Pioneer of Indology. Professor in Munich. Son of Konrad Frank, a master tailor, and Maria-Anna Köberlein. After school in Bamberg he entered the Benedictine monastery of Banz near Bamberg (now taking the new name Othmar Frank), and was…
FRANCKLIN, William. 1763 — 12.4.1839. British Colonial Officer and Historian in India. Son of Thomas Fr. (1721–1784), an academic clergyman, and his wife, née Venables. Educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. Cadet of E.I.C. 1782, joined the Bengal Native Infantry in 1783. In 1786 travelled in Iran, resided 8…
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…
ERSKINE, William. Edinburgh 8.11.1773 — Edinburgh 20.5.1852. British (Scottish) Civil Servant and Lawyer. 1804-23 in India. Son of David Erskine (1739?–1791), a lawyer, and Jean Melvin (1753?–1780?). Educated at Royal High School and Edinburgh University (dr. iuris). He “was a lawyer’s apprentice, 1792-9, went to India in 1803-4 with Sir…
ERDMANN, Friedrich Franz Ludwig von (Russian Fëdor Ivanovič Èrdman, born Friedrich Franz Ludwig Erdmann). Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg 15.3.1793 (or 1795?) — Kazan 2/14.2.1862. German Historian of Asia in Russia. Son of Johann Ernst Friedrich Erdmann (1759–1814), a vicar, and Luise Adel. Educated in Lübeck, studies at Rostock (O. G. Tychsen) and Göttingen.…
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…
ÈL’MANOVIČ, Spiridon Dmitrievič. Egor’evskij Syčevskij uezd, Smolensk gub. 1844/45 — 19??. Russian Translator (?). One of many children of Dmitrij Alekseevič È., a Russian Orthodox priest. Educated in Bel’ and at Smolensk spiritual seminary. In 1865-69 studied at St.Petersburg University Arabic and Persian, soon also Sanskrit. Worked as gymnasium teacher in…
ELLIOTT, Charles. London 10.12.1776 — London 4.5.1856. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Charles Elliott (1752–1832), a cabinet-maker, and Sarah Ann Sherman (1754–1784). He “voluntarily passed through the college of Fort William, judge of Fatehghar at 30, judge of Bareli, Court of Appeal, Judge of the Sadr Court at…
ELLIOT, Walter. Edinburgh 16.1.1803 — Wolfelee, Roxburghshire 1.3.1887. Sir. British (Scottish) Civil Servant, Indologist, Epigraphist and Naturalist in India. Son of James Elliot and Caroline Hunter (d. 1824), educated privately and in Cumberland and Doncaster. Appointed into a writership in E.I.C. he came to Haileybury in 1818 and to India…
ELLIOT, Henry Miers. Westminster 1.3.1808 — Cape Colony 20.12.1853. Sir. British Civil Servant in India and a Historian of Muhammadan India. Son of John Elliot (1765–1829), an officer, and Eliza Lettsom (1785–1865). Educated at Winchester College. He intended to go to Oxford, but became interested in India and, as there…