ARIS, Michael Vaillancourt. Havana, Cuba 7.3.1946 — Oxford 27.3.1999. British Tibetan Scholar, Specialist of Bhutan. Son of English father (John Arundel Aris, 1917–1989, a British Council Officer) and Canadian French mother (Josette Marie Émilie Vaillancourt, 1917–2009), one of identical twins (brother Anthony Aris, 1046–2015, a publisher specialised in Himalayan and…
ARDEN, Albert Henry. Longcroft, Staffordshire 5.5.1841 — on sea 7.11.1897. Rev. British Missionary in South India, a Dravidian Scholar. Son of a clerk, Thomas Arden (1796–1860), and Isabella Mary Cooper (1795–1860), educated at Kepton and Christ College, Cambridge (B.A. 1861, M.A. 1863), ordained 1864. Missionary in South India 1864-74, then…
ARCHER, William George (“Bill”). 11.2.1907 — Islington, London 6.3.1979. British Ethnologist and Art Historian of India. In India 1931-48, then in Victoria and Albert Museum. Son of William Archer, educated at Strand School. Studied history at Cambridge (Emmanuel College, M.A.) and aspired for a good position in Whitehall, but poor…
ANDERSON, William. 1804 — Albury Hall, Ware, Hertsfordshire 22.9.1869 (when 64). British Colonial Officer. C.B. 1842. Served as a major in India, then lieutenant-colonel in Bengal Artillery in 1854-55. In 1855 retired and returned to the U.K. Married 1815 Frances Sophia Pattle Plowden (1824–1849), one daughter (born 1846). One W.…
ANDERSON, Robert. 1792 — March 1843. Rev. British Civil Servant and Tamil Scholar in India, Madras Presidency. Born of a wealthy family, educated at Harrow and Haileybury. Learned Sanskrit, Persian and Bengali at East India College, went to India (Madras Civil Service), but after nine years was forced to return…
ANDERSON, Philip. bapt. 25.5.1816 — Malabar Hill, Bombay 13.12.1857. Rev. British Priest in India interested in Sanskrit and History. Son of Captain Thomas Anderson of the E.I.C., educated at St. Paul’s School in London. Studies at Cambridge (Corpus Christi College, B.A. 1838, M.A. 1849), ordained priest 1840. In 1849 to…
ANDERSON, James Drummond. Fort William, Calcutta 11.11.1852 — Cambridge 24.11.1920. British Civil Servant in India, Bengali Scholar. Son of James Anderson (1811–1891), an E.I.C. physician. and Ellen Mary Garstin (1831–1857). Born in Calcutta, he learned fluency of Bengali as child, but was sent to England when he was seven. Educated…
ALLAN, John. Bolton, East Lothian 8.8.1884 — Edinburgh 26.8.1955. British (Scottish) Numismatician and Indologist. Son of John Gray Allan, a head master, grew up on Longniddry. Educated from 1899 at Royal High School in Edinburgh and at the Universities of Edinburgh and Leipzig. From 1907 working in British Museum, in…
ALEXANDER, James Edward. Stirling 16.10.1803 — Ryde, Isle of Wight 2.4.1885. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of banker Edward Alexander and Catherine Glas. Educated at colleges in Edinburgh and Glasgow and at Sandhurst. In 1821 joined Madras cavalry. In February 1824 he visited the Ajanta Caves (he…
ALABASTER, Henry. Hastings, Sussex 22.5.1836 — Bangkok 8.8.1884. British Diplomat in South-East Asia, interested in Buddhism. Son of James Chaloner Alabaster (1806–1840) and Harriet Sophia Woodman (1807–1840), educated at King’s College, London. Served as interpreter to British consulate-general in Bangkok 1864-71 (Wikipedia says from 1856, Garnier 1857), finally acting consul.…