CORDIER, Palmyr Uldéric Alexis. Amancey near Besançon (Doubs) 18.2.1871 — Besançon 5.9.1914. French Physician and Indologist, an early specialist of the Āyurveda. Born in a modest family, son of insurance manager Palmyr Uldéric Cordier and Marthe Hermine Maréchal, educated in Besançon. Studied medicine in Toulon and Bordeaux, at Marine medical…
CORDIER, Henri. New Orleans 8.8.1849 — Paris 16.3.1925. French Scholar of Asian History. Son of Ernest-Eugène Cordier (1811?–1880), 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 (born Henri Eugène Corbin). Paris 14.4.1903 — Paris 7.10.1978. French Philosopher, Theologian and Scholar of Iranian Religion and Islam. Son of Henri Arthur Corbin and Eugénie Fournier (d. 1903), grew up with an aunt. Born in a Protestant family, but had catholic education. Studied philosophy in Paris (degree…
CORAL-RÉMUSAT, Gilberte de (née Gilberte Joanne Marie de Rémusat). 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 Rémusat (1864–1946), a politician, and Germaine Stieldorff, grandniece of —> Abel-Rémusat (1788–1832). Visited Angkor and met Finot and Goloubew, then studied at…
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 priest 1725, left for South India in 1732, and served in Madurai Mission in 1732-73, in 1744-51 as the superior of the mission. After the…
CŒDÈS, George (Georges). Paris 10.8.1886 — Neuilly-sur-Seine 2.10.1969. French South-East Asian Scholar (Historian and Epigraphist). Son of bank director Hippolyte Cœdès 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…
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, and Marie Barbe Pollin. The birth year is somewhat…
CHEVALIER, Jean-Baptiste. Blois 23.4.1729 — Conan near Blois 30.4.1789. French Traveller in India and Tibet. Son of Jean-Baptiste Chevalier, a lawyer and royal adviser, and Marie-Catherine de La Saussaye. In French colonial service left for Bengal in 1752, in 1755-57 explored still independent Assam, trying without success to get an…
CHAVANNES, Émmanuel-Édouard. Lyon 5.10.1865 — Paris 29.1.1918. French Sinologist and Buddhist Scholar. Born in a Protestant family, son of Frédéric.Émile Chavannes (1836–1909, an engineer) and Blanche Dapples (1844–1865, died after his birth). Educated in Lausanne, Lyon and Paris (Lycée Louis-le-Grand). In 1885-88 studies at École normale supérieure. Now began Chinese…