SOOTHILL, William Edward. Halifax, Yorkshire 23.1.1861 — Oxford 13.5.1935. Rev. British Missionary in China, then Sinologist and Buddhist Scholar. Son of William Soothill (1836–1893), a textile worker. As youngster worked in a solicitor’s office in Halifax. Interrupted his studies at London University deciding to become a missionary. Ordained priest 1882.…
SMITH, Vincent Arthur. Dublin 3.6.1848 — Oxford 6.2.1920. British (Irish) Indologist, Historian and Art Historian of India, in India (1871–1900) and the U.K. Son of Aquilla Smith (1806–1890), a physician and noted numismatist and archaeologist, and Esther Faucett (d. 1850). Educated at Trinity College, Dublin (B.A. 1868) and Cambridge (M.A.).…
SMITH, Ronald Morton. Galashiels, Selkirkshire 25.8.1915 — Toronto 18.11.1996. British (Scottish) Indologist in Canada. The only child of John Smith (1880–1962) and Margaret Leitch. Educated at Bromsgrove School near Birmingham. Studies at St.Andrews (M.A. 1939 in classics), Oxford (Pembroke College, where he after the war service passedB.A. & M.A. 1947…
SMITH, May. 18?? — 19??. Britishwoman interested in Pāli. With meagre data she is doomed to remain mere name, but she could perhaps be, taken Rhys Davids’s interest in psychology and the common connection with Manchester, the same May Smith (1879–1968) who was known as industrial psychologist and is presented…
SMITH, George. Leith near Edinburgh 28.4.1833 — Edinburgh 24.12.1919. British (Scottish) Teacher in India, Historian and Geographer. Son of Adam Smith (1809–1837) and Isabella Anderson. Lost early his father and also mother died before 1851. Educated at the Royal High School, studies at University of Edinburgh: LL.D. 1868. Professor 1854…
SMITH, Edmund William. 25.3.1858 — Oudh 21.11.1901. British Archaelogical Photographer in India. In 1886 joined A.S.I. as Assistant Archaeological Surveyor for North-West Provinces and Oudh. Surveyor 1891, Surveyor and Curator of the Lucknow Museum 1898. Worked as Führer’s Assistant. Died of cholera. Publications: With A.. Führer: The Sharqi-Architecture of Jaunpur;…
SLEEMAN, William Henry. Stratton, Cornwall 18.8.1788 — at sea 10/25.2.1856. Sir. British Colonial Officer and Administrator in India. Son of yeoman Philip Sleeman and Mary Spray, a family of Cornish gentry. He lost his father in 1798 (or 1802?), mother 1818. In 1809 joined the Bengal Army as infantry cadet,…
SKRINE, Francis Henry Bennett. Cahir, county Tipperary 23.12.1847 — Les Bosquets, Aix-en-Provence 8.12.1933. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Rev. Clarmont Skrine (1820–1886), a retired officer in Wimbledon, and Mary Ann Auchmuty Bennett. Educated at Blackheath School; entered the I.C.S. 1868, served in Bengal and Bihar. In the 1880s…
SKEEN, William. London 1822 — Sri Lanka 1872. British Printer in Sri Lanka, the first officially appointed Government Printer for Ceylon in 1849-72. From 1860 also had a photographic studio in Colombo. Married with Louisa Matilda Kemp (1822–1864), three sons worked as printers and photographers in Sri Lanka and Burma,…
SIMPSON, William. Glasgow 28.10.1823 — London 17.8.1899. British (Scottish) Artist. Of modest origin, with abusive and alcoholic father, from 1834 living with his grandmother in Perth. After a few years in school he became apprentice in a lithographic firm in Glasgow, eventually became famous as newspaper illustrator. He first illustrated…