ROBINSON, William Henry.1829? — Edmonton 1910 (when 81) – says JRAS, but the editor’s preface in his book has Westminster 1824 — 1906. Britishman, interested in Indology. Of modest background, grew up in Hampstead. In middle age became interested in Orient and without formal studies learned Sanskrit from books. Worked…
ROBINSON, William. Bencoolen (?) 4.9.1819? — Assam 27.8.1863. British Baptist Missionary in India. Son of Rev. William R. (Olney, Buckinghamshire 18.1.1784 — Dacca 2.9.1853), a shoemaker turned into missionary working in Indonesia and Bengal, and Margaret Gordon (1798–1822). Their son was Inspector of Government schools in Assam. He claimed that…
ROBERTSON, Elphinstone Pourtales. 1831 — Middlesex 30.1.1912. British Civil Servant in India. Educated at Haileybury. Arrived at Bombay in 1851, worked in Surat, Ahmedabad, Colaba, etc. in Gujarat, from 1869 in Dharwar. From 1876 Revenue and Police Commissioner for Southern Division, 1878 Commissioner of Central Division. Retired 1886. Publications: Vocabulary English…
ROBERTS, T. Theo. 17?? — 18??. British Colonial Officer in India. Lieutenant. His Glossary was intended to help newcomers, consisting mainly of Indian words and names adopted in English usage in India. Publications: An Indian Glossary, consisting of some thousand words and terms commonly used in the East-Indies. 120 p. L.…
ROBERTS, Hugh. Pontyraran, Dolgellau, Merionethshire 23.6.1841 — Ruabon near Wrexham 1916. Rev. British (Welsh) Missionary in India. Son of Robert Roberts. Ordained priest 1865, a Calvinistic Methodist. Arrived in India with his wife in 1866, worked as teacher in Sylhet (hills and plain) until 1876. Then retired and returned to…
ROBERTS, Roger Elliot. 1753? — London 9.8.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. As Major in 1777 visited Burma, in the mid-1780s called Persian interpreter. In 1798 Lieutenant-Colonel, 180? Colonel. Member of Asiatic Society (1802/10) and Royal Society (1801-31). Also knew Hindustani. According to thepeerage.com one Colonel R.E.R. (the same?) married Mary…
ROBERTS, Emma. Methley near Leeds 1793? — Poona 16.9.1840. British Journalist and Poet in India. Daughter of Captain William Roberts, who died before her birth, and his wife Eliza, grew up with her mother in Bath. Moved in literary circles and studied historical material in British Museum. In 1828 went…
RICHARDSON, David Thomas. Langholm, Dumfriesshire 176? — on sea ?.11.1808. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of Gilbert Richardson (1722–1783) and Susanna Scott (d. 1775). Like several of his brothers he went to India as cadet in 1779. Learned soon Persian and Hindustani. In 1799 came to England accompanied by…
RHYS, Ernest Percival. Islington, London 17.6.1859 — London 25.5.1946. British Publisher and Poet. Son of John Rees (as he wrote it) of Wales and Emma Percival. The family moved soon to Carmarthen (Wales), where the father worked as wine seller, and 1865 to Newcastle. After school there he became an apprentice…
RANKING, George Speirs Alexander. Hastings, Sussex 1.1.1852 — Caversham, Berkshire 14.6.1934. British Physician and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of Robert Ranking (1785–1867) and Isabella Spiers (1810–1883). Educated at St.Catharine’s College in Cambridge, studied medicine in London. In 1875-1905 in Indian Medical Service, finally as Lieutenant-Colonel. M.A. Then 1905-20 University Lecturer in…