WISE, Thomas Alexander. Dundee 13.6.1802 (?) — Norwood, London 23.7.1889. British (Scottish) Physician in India. Son of Thomas Wise, also a physician. Graduated in medicine, Edinburgh 1824. In 1827-51 in Indian Medical Service, soon became interested in Āyurveda. He studied Sanskrit and achieved an extensive collection of artefacts illustrating the…
WINSTEDT, Richard Olaf. Oxford 2.8.1878 — Putney, London 2.6.1966. Sir. British South-East Asian (Malay) Scholar. Son of a naturalized Swedish father and English mother, Sarah Castell. Educated at Magdalen College School and New College, Oxford. In 1902 joined Malayan Civil Service, served first in Perak. From 1913 District Officer at…
WINFIELD, Walter Warren. 8.6.1889 — 6.4.1970. Rev. British Baptist Missionary in India. Son of Harry Winfield and Clara Jane East (1852–1906). B.A., B.D. In 1917-27 worked in Udayagiri (Nellore dt., Andhra Pr.), 1927-29 in Banbury, then taught from 1930 at Serampore College. Married 1919 in Madras Lottie Lydia Johnson (1891–1966),…
WILSON, John. Lauder, Berwickshire 11.12.1804 — near Bombay 1.12.1875. Rev. British (Scottish) Missionary in India, Indologist and Iranian Scholar. Son of Andrew Wilson, a farmer and township councillor, and Janet Hunter, grew up in Lauder. From the age of 14 studied arts, then theology at Edinburgh, during holidays worked as…
WILSON, Horace Hayman. London 26.9.1786 (date uncertain) — London 8.5.1860. British Indologist. In India 1808-32, then Professor in Oxford. Born in a modest family. Educated in London and studied medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital, but also learned the elements of minting. In 1808 left forBengal as Assistant-Surgeon, during the six months’…
WILSON, Charles Robert. Old Charlton, Kent 27.3.1863 — Clapham, London 24.7.1904. British Civil Servant (Teacher) in India, Historian of the Colonial Period. Son of Charles Wilson, an army tutor, and Charlotte Woodthorpe Childs (1817–1905). “Educated at City of London School and Wadham College, Oxford [B.A. 1887]; entered the Bengal Education…
WILLIAMS, Alfred Owen. South Marston near Swindon, Wiltshire 7.2.1877 — Ibid. 10.4.1930. “The Hammerman Poet”. British Poet interested in Sanskrit Literature. Son of carpenter Elias Williams, who soon left his family in poverty. He was a self-taught man, who worked many years in railways, finally retiring with broken health. In…
WILKS, Mark. Isle of Man 1759 — Kelloe House, Berwickshire 19.9.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. James Wilks (1719–1777) and Elizabeth Christian, a family of Manx gentry. Joined the E.I.C.’s army and went to Madras in 1782. Learned soon Persian. In 1786 Deputy Secretary to the Military…
WILKINSON, Lancelot. Crosby-Ravensworth, Cumbria 22.6.1805 — Sehore near Bhopal 13.11.1841. British Scholar of Astronomy in India. Son of James Wilkinson (1765–1820) and Nanny Eggleston (1771–1820). Came to India as a writer around 1822 and joined Bombay C.S. From 1824 Assistant to Collector of Southern Konkan, from 1826 Assistant Resident in…
WILKINS, William Joseph. Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham bait. 29.1.1843 — Weaste, Salford 29.5.1902. Rev. British Missionary in India. Son of William Wilkins, a cordwainer, and Ann Smith. Educated at Hackney College and Highgate. Ordained, went to India in 1867 and remained four years as pastor in Calcutta. In service of…