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 (1766–1849). Educated at Charterhouse 1803-07. He served in the navy until 1810, got then an appointment in India and…
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). Graduated 1861 from Amherst College, then further studies at the Leicester Academy (Mass.) in 1861-62. In 1862 tutor at Amherst,…
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…
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 Louis Constant Adrien Assier de Pompignan and Marie Pauline Gastel. In 1884 graduated from École navale. In 1909 naval lieutenant, in the 1920s captain of frigate, in the 1930s retired,…
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 only son of Leone Flaminio Ascoli (died early) and Elena Norsa, lost soon his father. Never went to…
ARROWSMITH, Robert C. Brooklyn, N.Y. 23.11.1860 — ?.6.1928. U.S. Linguist and Classical Scholar interested in Sanskrit. Son of Milton John Arrowsmith (1822–1907) 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…
ARNTZ, Jacobus. Milligen, near Nijmegen 15.12.1816 — Kuilenburg (now Culemborg, Gelderland) 10.6.1887. Father. S.J. Dutch Jesuit Scholar interested in Sanskrit Literature. Son of Antonius Arntz (1783–1865), a brickmaker, and Johanna Willemsen (1792–1831). In 1843-47 he taught philosophy at Kuilenburg Seminary. In 1848 ordained priest. Then taught philosophy, philology and even…
ARNOLD, Edwin Laster. Gravesend, Kent 10.6.1832 — London 24.3.1904. Sir. British Poet and Journalist interested in Sanskrit and India. Son of Robert Coles Arnold (1797–1866), a magistrate, and Sarah Ann Pissey. Grew up in Southchurch, Essex. Educated at King’s School in Rochester and King’s College in London. From 1851 studies…
ARIEL, Édouard-Simon. Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) 5.10.1818 — Pondichéry 23.4.1854. French Marine Officer and Indologist (Tamil scholar) in India. Son of Simon Ariel, lieutenant of royal customs in Nantes, and Victoire-Aglaë Gaultron. From 1836 in navy, first in Nancy port, in 1840-44 in marine administration in Paris, now also student of Burnouf.…