PLAYFAIR, John. Benvie, Forfarshire 10.3.1748 — Burntisland, Fife 20.7.1819. British (Scottish) Scientist and Mathematician. Son of Rev. James Playfair and Margaret Young, educated at home. Studies at St.Andrews and Edinburgh, began with divinity, but turned to science. Worked as preacher and tutor, continuing his studies. From 1785 Professor of Mathematics…
PIGOU, Robert. Bengal 5.10.1816 — Afghanistan 24.2.1841, when 24. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Henry Minchin Pigou (1791–1874), of Bengal Civil Service, and Elizabeth Bird. Educated at Rugby, in 1830 joined E.I.C.’s army (sappers and miners), came to Bengal 1836. Lieutenant of Bengal Engineers. Killed by a premature…
PHILLIPS, Godfrey Edward. 4.3.1878 — 29.11.1961/63. Rev. British Missionary in India. Studies at Oxford (Mansfield College), M.A. Worked for London Missionary Society in Bangalore, from 1910 teaching at United Theological College as Professor of Church History. Apparently returned in 1926 and was Professor at Kingsmead College in Birmingham until 1944.…
PERCIVAL (Perceval), Robert. 1765 — 1826. British Colonial Officer. Joined Irish Infantry in the U.K., as Captain in 1795-97 participated in the conquest of Dutch Capeland. In 1797 to Ceylon, where he remained three years. His both books are said to be full of description of the cruelty and treachery…
PERCIVAL, Peter. Prestwich, Lancashire 24.7.1803 — Yercaud (Eṟkāṭu), Salem dt. 11.7.1882. Rev. British Missionary and Indologist (Tamil Scholar) in Sri Lanka and India. Son of Peter and Jane P. In 1826 Wesleyan Methodist Mission sent him to Jaffna, worked there until 1829 and after a few years in Bengal in…
PEARSON, John. Calcutta 1790 — 1831. British Missionary in India. Worked for London Missionary Society in Bengal Publications: A School Dictionary, English–Bengali. Calcutta 1829. Sources: A. K. Biswas, “Rammohun Roy, his intellectual compatriots and their scientific contributions”, Indian Journal of History of Science 46.3, 2011, 427-481 (briefly on p. 450).
PEARSE, Thomas Deane. 1738 (1741/42?) — on the Ganges 15.6.1789. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Royal Navy Captain Thomas Pearse and Martha Purvis (1713–1762), of Reading. After Military Academy in Woolwich joined Royal Artillery 1761. In 1768 transferred to E.I.C.’s service and became Major in Bengal army. Colonel…
PEARSE, George Godfrey. Berhampore, dt. Murshidabad (or Madras?) 4.1.1827 — Shanklin, Isle of Wight (or London?) 5.12.1905. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India, noted as a Numismatist. Son of Dr. George Pearse, a physician from Edinburgh, and Anne Sarah McCulloch. Served in South India from 1844, in 1848-55 in the…
PAWSEY, Charles Ridley. Surbiton, Surrey 14.7.1894 — Badingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk 21.7.1972. Sir. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Charles James Pawsey, a paymaster of Royal Navy, and Ellen Edith Offord. After Berkhamsted School studies at Wadham College, Oxford (B.A.). Served as officer in WW I and joined I.C.S. 1919. From…
PATERSON, John David. 1754? — Dacca (Dhaka) 27.5.1809, when 55. Britishman, in service of E.I.C. in Bengal from 1776. Finally Judge and Magistrate of Dacca. Founder member of A.S.B. Compared Indian religion with Graeco-Roman and Egyptian. Publications: “Of the Origin of Hindu Religion”, As. Res.8, 1805, 44-87; “On the Grámas, or Musical Scales…