PLÜTSCHAU (Plütschow, Plütscho), Heinrich. Wesenberg bei Neustrelitz 1676 — Beidenfleth, Kr. Steinburg, Holstein 4.1.1752 (Hantzsch 1747). German Pietist Missionary in India. Educated in Berlin, then studied theology at Halle. Prompted by Francke to enter missionary career he was ordained in Copenhagen in 1705 andarrived at Trankebar (Tamilnadu) in 1706 together…
PERTOLD, Otakar. Jaroměř, Hradec Králové 21.3.1884 — Prague 3.5.1965. Czechoslovakian Indologist and Anthropologist. Professor in Prague. Born in Northern Bohemia as the son of Jan Pertold, a chemist and owner of a sugar factory. Educated in Slany 1894-1902, then studies of classical philology, philosophy, Oriental languages (under Zubatý et al.)…
PARKER, Henry John. 1849 — 19??. British Engineer and Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Arrived in 1873 and in 1873-1904 worked as Irrigation Officer at Public Works Department, serving in different parts of the island. Interest in ancient reservoirs led him to archaeology. At the same time he achieved an…
VOROB’EV-DESJATOVSKIJ, Vladimir Svjatoslavovič. Tver 3.10.1927 — Leningrad 2.7.1956. Russian Indologist. Son of an official. After the 9th school class joined the army and served in 1944-45 in Romania, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Disbanded in 1945 he concluded his school education and studied at the Oriental Faculty of Leningrad University Indology (specially…
VINSON, Elie Honoré Julien. Paris? (thus French Wikipédia, English Wikip. claims Pondichéry and data.bnf.fr Bagnères-de-Luchon, Haute-Garonne) 21.1.1843 — Libourne (Gironde) 21.11.1926. French Indologist and Scholar of Religion. Professor in Paris. Probably born in France, but grew up in Karikal and Pondichéry, where his father was a civil servant, and thus…
ZIEGENBALG, Bartholomäus. Pulsnitz, Saxony 14.6.1683 (or 10.6.1682?) — Tranquebar, India 23.2.1719. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology (Tamil Scholar). In South India 1706-19. Son of the elder B.Z. (1640–1694), a modest grain merchant, and Maria Brückner (1646–1692). After gymnasium in Görlitz and Berlin, studied one year under A. H. Francke…
NEVILL, Hugh. Tottenham, Middlesex (London) 19.6.1847 — Hyères, France 10.4.1897. British Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Son of William Nevill (1808–1874), an amateur geologist), and Mary Oridge (1818–1857), grew up in Godalmig, Surrey. Came to Ceylon when 17 as private secretary to Chief Justice and served 27 years there, finally…
NAU, Heinrich (Henry). Beltershausen, Marburg 21.9.1881 — Greensboro, NC 17.5.1956. German Lutheran Missionary and Student of Indology (Tamil). Son of a farmer, Peter Nau, and Anna Katherine Hofmeister. Studied at Marburg. Emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1902. Now turned to religion and studied at Concordia Seminary in St.Louis. Missionary in South…
MOUSSET, Louis-Marie. Sanzay (Deux-Sèvres) 7.2.1808 — Pondichéry 8.2.1888. Father. French Tamil Scholar, Missionary in South India. Ordained 1831 (or 18344) in Poitiers and left to India 1835. Worked in Madurai and from 1844 Pondichéry, teaching 40 years at a seminary. Collaborated in Tamil lexicographical work with —> L. S. Dupuis…
MERVART, Aleksandr Mihailovič (Gustav-German Hristianovič M., born Gustav Hermann Christian Meerwarth). Mannheim (or Bruchsal) 1884 — Uhtpečlag 23.5.1932. Russian (German-born) Indologist (Tamil Scholar) and Ethnograph. Born in a Jewish family in Germany, in Bruchsal (English Wikipedia) or rather Mannheim (all other sources). Studied at Heidelberg, Ph.D. 1907 (diss. on German history).From…