COURBIN, Henri. 1??? — ????. French Teacher interested in Sanskrit. In 1931 teacher in a secondary school (lycée de Lyon) in Paris. Both Edgerton (Language 8, 1932, 304) and Rylands (BSOS 6:4, 1932, 1029) found the grammar rather acceptable as elementary book. Publications: Grammaire élémentaire du sanscrit classique. 1-2. 128+119…
CORDIER, Palmyr Uldéric Alexis. Amancey (Doubs) 18.2.1871 — Besançon 5.9.1914. French Physician and Indologist, an early specialist of the Āyurveda. Born in a modest family, educated in Besançon. Studied medicine in Toulon and Bordeaux, at Marine medical school. Became friend with —> Liétard and began the study of Sanskrit. Dr.med.…
CORDIER, Henri. New Orleans 8.8.1849 — Cairo, Egypt 16.3.1925. French Scholar of Asian History. Son of Erneste-Eugène C., a Savoyan working in the U.S.A. as businessman and banker, and Amélie-Henriette Oudin. In 1852 he came to France with his mother and was educated in Paris, also while his parents were…
CORBIN, Henry. Paris 14.4.1903 — Paris 7.10.1978. French Philosopher, Theologian and Scholar of Iranian Religion and Islam. Son of Henri Arthur C. and Eugénie Fournier. Born in a Protestant family, but had catholic education. Studied philosophy in Paris (degree 1925), in 1928 led by Massignon to Suhrawardi. Now also studied…
CORAL-RÉMUSAT, Gilberte de. Paris 17.12.1903 — Lausanne 18.10.1943. Mme. French Art Historian of South and South-East Asia. The only daughter of Pierre, comte de R. and Germaine Stieldorff, grandniece of —> Abel-Rémusat. Visited Angkor and met Finot and Goloubew, then studied at Ecole de Louvre and E.P.H.E. (Przyluski, Pelliot & Masson-Oursel). From…
COLLINS, Georges François Guillaume Jean Jacques. Lyon 2.2.1825 — Vichy 17.6.1882. French Protestant Priest and Scholar of History of Religion. In 1845-49 studies in Geneva, bachelier en théologie Strasbourg 1849 and soon ordained as priest. Served as minister in Clermont-Ferrand (1850-61) and Besançon (1861-65), then for the Huguenot (Walloon) congregation…
CŒURDOUX, Gaston-Laurent. Bourges 18.10.1691 (or 18.12.?) — Pondichéry 15.6.1779. S.J. French Missionary Priest and Pioneer of Indology in India. Joined the S.J. in 1715, ordained 1725, left for South India 1732, and served in Madurai Mission in 1732-73, in 1744-51 as the superior of the mission. After the suppression of…
CŒDÈS, Georges. Paris 10.8.1886 — Neuilly-sur-Seine 2.10.1969. French South-East Asian Scholar (Historian and Epigraphist). Son of bank director Hippolyte C. and Marie Carette. The family is sometimes claimed to have Hungarian Jewish origin, but according to Wikipedia his ancestors were already living in Strasbourg before 1740. Educated at Lycée Carnot, from…
CHÉZY, Antoine Léonard de. Neuilly-sur-Seine near Paris 15.1.1773 — Paris 3.9. (or 31.8.) 1832. French Pioneer of Indology, the first Professor of Sanskrit in Paris. Born in the large family of Antoine de Chézy (1718–1798), a well known engineer and scientist. Birth year somewhat uncertain, D.B.F. gives 1775, others 1773.…
CHEVALIER, Jean-Baptiste. Blois 23.4.1729 — Blois 30.4.1789. French Traveller in India and Tibet. Son of Jean-Bapt. Ch., a lawyer and royal adviser. In French colonial service left for Bengal in 1752, in 1755-57 explored still independent Assam, trying without success to get an agreement with the Raja. In 1760-61 visited…