WILKINS, Gordon Smedley. Derby 2.3.1869 — Bromley, Kent 5.1.1957. Rev. British Baptist Missionary in India. Son of George Wilkins (1830–1886) and Mary Stevenson. Worked in Sambalpur 1892-95, Berhampur 1895-1907, Cuttack 1907-09, Russekonda 1909-11, Berhampur 1911-13, Padampur 1913-16 and Cuttack 1916-27. In retirement living in London. Married Ellen Lucy Pike (1872–1958),…
WILKINS, Charles. Frome, Somerset bapt. 21.6.1749 (not 1750!) — London 13.5.1833. Sir. British Pioneer of Indology. In India 1770-86. Son of Hugh Wilkins (Sengupta Walter Wilkins) and Mary Wray, a modest family. Trained as a printer. Joining the E.I.C.’s service he came to India as a Writer in July 1770…
WILFORD, Francis. 1761 (1771 makes him too young for his early career) — Benares 1822. British (of German Origin) Colonial Officer and Indologist in India. Born in the Kingdom of Hannover, obtained classical education. In 1781 joined the E.I.C.’s military service. Served many years as Lieutenant, in the end Colonel.…
WHITLEY, Jabez Cornelius. London (or Shoreditch, Middlesex) 20.1.1837 — Darjeeling 13/18.10.1904. Right Rev. British Missionary in India. Son of Rev. Edward Whitley and Ann Hunt, educated at the Mercer’s School, Holborn, and Queen’s College, Cambridge (B.A. 1859), ordained deacon 1860, priest 1861. “Went to India in 1862 as a Missionary…
WHITEHEAD, Richard Bertram. Liverpool 6.11.1879 — Cambridge 4.3. 1967. British Numismatist. Son of Rev. Robert Whitehead and Isabella Grimshaw. Educated at Liverpool College and Exeter College, Oxford. In 1902 he joined I.C.S. and in 1903 arrived in the Punjab. From 1904 Assistant Commissioner, first in Ambala, then in different parts…
WHITEHEAD, George. 1862 — Halton West, North Yorkshire 3.4.1935. Rev. British Anglican Missionary. From Yorkshire, of an old yeoman family. B.A. 1884 University of London, then curacy at Barnsley. Ordained deacon 1886 and priest 1887 in Mandalay. From 1886 worked in various positions in Upper Burma, in 1895-97 officiating Principal…
WHEELER, Mortimer (Robert Eric Mortimer; “Ric”). Glasgow 10.9.1890 — Surrey 22.7.1976. Sir. British archæologist. Son of journalist Robert Wheeler and Emily Baynes. Grew up in Edinburgh and near Bradford in Yorkshire (where school). Studies at London University College, in 1914 begun his work as archæologist and married. In 1914-18 in…
WHEELER, James Talboys. Oxford 22.12.1824 — Ramsgate, Kent 13.1.1897. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Son of James Luft Wheeler, a bookseller, and Anna Ophelia Talboys, privately educated. “Began as a publisher and book-seller. [During Crimean War] War Office extra clerk. Went to Madras to edit the Madras Spectator,…
WHATMOUGH, Joshua. Rochdale, Lancashire 30.6.1897 — Winchester, MA 25.4.1964. British IE Linguist in the U.S.A. (citizen 1942). Professor in Cambridge, Mass. Son of Walter Whatmough, an iron-molder and woolweaver, and Elizabeth Hollows. Studied at Manchester (B.A. 1916, and, after war service, M.A. 1921) and Cambridge (Emmanuel College, B.A. 1921, M.A.…
WESTMACOTT, George Edward. London 23.2.1807 — near Kabul 23.11.1841, when 35. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of George W. (1783–1868) and Ann Knightley Seller (1781–1855). Arrived in India in 1823 as Ensign. Captain 1833, then Assistant to the Government General’s Agent in North-East Frontier, visited Assam and Sindh. Participated…