MEZZOFANTI, Giuseppe Gaspare. Bologna 19.9.1774 — Rome 15.3.1849. Italian Polyglot, Cardinal. Born in a humble family as the son of a carpenter, Francesco M. and Gesualda Dell’Olme, he showed early his talent in languages. Studied with the Piarists. Ordained priest 1797, he became Professor of Arabic, Hebrew and Greek at…
MESSINA, Giuseppe. San Cataldo, Sicily 6.1.1893 — Messina 28.6.1951. Father. S.J. Italo-French Scholar of Iranian and of History of Religion. Born near Caltanisetta in Sicily. Joined the Jesuits and studied philosophy in France and theology in the Netherlands, ordained priest in 1922. Then studied Iranian philology in Rome (Pontifical Biblical Institute,…
MERLO, Pietro. Turin 15.11.1850 — Alpe di Chevignana near Castelveccana, Lombardy 13.10.1888. Italian IE scholar interested in Sanskrit. Professor in Pavia. Son of Clemente Merlo, a physician, and Benedetta Antonelli. After school in Turin from 1867 studies at Turin under Flechia. M.A. 1871. Worked as teacher in gymnasiums of Chieri,…
MARTINETTI, Pier Federico Giuseppe Celestino Mario (Piero). Ponte Canavese (Turin) 21.8.1872 — Cuorgnè (Turin) 23.3.1943. Italian Philosopher interested in Indian Thought. Son of an anticlerical advocate, Francesco M., and Rosalia Bertogliatti, educated in Ivrea. Studied at Turin (i.al. under Flechia), Ph.D. there 1893. After further studies in Leipzig taught philosophy…
MARCO DELLA TOMBA (lay Pietro Girolamo Agresti). Tomba (now Castel Colonna) near Senigallia in Urbino 1726 — Bhagalpur (Patna) 13.3. (or 7.6.) 1803. Father. Italian Capuchin Missionary, in India 1757-73 & 1786-1803. Son of Crisostomo Agresti and Vittoria Luzietti, Capuchin novice 1745. In 1755 he joined the Tibetan mission of…
MARAZZI, Antonio. 1814 — 18??. Italian Translator of Sanskrit Literature. Studies at Turin under Flechia. Once called Professor (perhaps in school, in Turin?). He is mentioned by De Gubernatis in his 1879 Diz. biografico, but not in the enlarged French version in 1891 – probably no longer living. In the…
MANUCCI (MANNUCCI, MANUZZI), Niccolo. Venice 19.4.1638 — Madras 1717. Italian Traveller in India. Son of Pasqualino M. and Rosa Bellini. He run away from his Venetian home in the age of 14 in 1653, became servant to Viscount Bellemont and travelled via Smyrna, Isfahan, Gombron and by ship to Surat…
MANENGO, Andrea. 18?? — 1???. Italian Physician interested in Āyurveda. Studies around 1850. Dr. Med. Worked in Brescia (1852), then in Guastalla. Publications: Susruta Ayurveda, ossia i codici dell’ antica sapienza medica indiana e sua priorita sulla greca. 24 p. Velletri 1892; medical writings. Sources: Title only in Gli studi…
MAGGI, Pietro Giuseppe. Milano 31.8.1817 — Milano 5.2.1873. Italian Scholar interested in Indology. Son of Giovanni Antonio Maggi. Ph.D. Member of Lombardian Academy. According to De Gubernatis “ingegno di vasta e minuta erudizione”, but published little. In his notes to his translation in 1847 he was the first to note…
MAFFEI, Angelo Francesco Saverio (Angelus Francis Xavier). Pinzolo, Val di Rendena, South Tyrol (Alto Adighe) 12.11.1844 — Nellikunja near Kasargod 31.5.1899. Father. S.J. Italian Missionary in India. After classical studies at Collegio Vescoville in Trento he started clerical studies and was sent to Università Gregoriana of Rome. Joined the S.J.…