BLEICHSTEINER, Robert. Vienna 6.1.1891 — Vienna 10.4.1954. Austrian Anthropologist and Linguist, Scholar of Iranian and Caucasian Languages and Ethnology, later also of Mongolian and Tibetan. Son of Josef Ludwig Bleichsteiner (1859–1914) and Josefine Klinger. School and studies in Vienna (M. Bittner, L. von Schroeder, B. Geiger). Ph.D. 1913 Vienna, then…
BLEECK, Arthur Henry. Westbury, Wiltshire 18.5.1829 — Kensington, London 27.1.1877. British Orientalist, said to be known of his remarkable linguistic talent (but translating Spiegel’s German Avesta is not so remarkable). Son of William Bleak (1801/2–1873), a school director, and Charlotte Goodman. Studies at University College, London. First employed in British…
BLAU, Ernst Otto Friedrich August. Nordhausen, Thüringen 21.4.1828 — Odessa 26.2.1879. German Diplomat and Oriental Scholar. Son of Christian Friedrich Blau (teacher, later superintendent). After school in Pforta studies of theology at Halle, soon Oriental languages at Leipzig. Ph.D. Leipzig 1855. Entered early diplomatic career: from 1852 in Constantinople (in…
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,…
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…
BEVERIDGE, Henry. Inzievar, Fife 9.2.1837 — London 8.11.1929. British (Scottish) Historian of Mughal and Colonial India. Son of the elder —> Henry Beveridge (1799–1863). Educated in Glasgow and Edinburgh, studies at Glasgow University and from 1856 at Queen’s College in Belfast. Joined the I.C.S. through competition in 1857, and served…
BEVERIDGE, Annette Susannah (née Akroyd). Stourbridge, Worcestershire 13.12.1842 — London 27.3.1929. British Oriental (Persian and Eastern Turkish) Scholar. Wife of —> Henry Beveridge (the younger, 1837–1929). Daughter of William Akroyd (1803–1869), an industrialist from Yorkshire, a middle-class Unitarian family. She was educated at Bedford College in London in 1862-67. In…
BAUSANI, Alessandro. Rome 29.5.1921 — Rome 11.3.1988. Italian Orientalist (Persian Scholar). Grew up in a stricly religious Catholic family, educated at Liceo classico in Rome. Studies in Rome, graduated 1943. Ph.D. From 1944 incaricato di lingua e letteratura persiana, Università di Roma, 1951-56 lettore ordinario; 1956-71 Professor of Persian language…
BARTOL’D, Vasilij Vladimirovič (Wilhelm Barthold). St.Petersburg 3(15).11.1869 — Leningrad 19.8.1930. Russian Scholar of Central Asian History and Geography, one of the most famous of his time. Born of a Russianized German family. School and from 1891 studies at St.Petersburg, first of Oriental languages, from 1892 also of Asian history. Magistr…