STEINSCHNEIDER, Moritz. Prossnitz, Moravia (now Prostějov in Czech) 30.3.1816 — Berlin 24.1.1907. Moravian Jewish Rabbi and Semitic Scholar. Son of Jacob St. (1782–1856), a Talmud scholar, and Hani Zadek-Weizenkern (1792–1859). After school Talmudic studies in Prague (1833-36) and Vienna, now also other Semitic languages. Pressed by anti-Jewish laws of Austria…
STEIN, Rolf Alfred. Schwetz (now Świecie in Kujavia-Pomerania, Poland) 13.6.1911 — Paris 9.10.1999. French (born German Jew) Sinologist and Tibetan Scholar. Professor in Paris. In 1919 when their home town was ceded to Poland, the family moved to Berlin. Youthful interest in occultism led him to Tibetology. Studied Chinese at…
ST. ANDREW ST. JOHN, Richard Fleming. Ealing (?) 12.9.1839 — Brentford, Middlesex 6.2.1919. British Officer and Burmese Scholar. Son of Henry St.Andrew St.John and Emily Murray Belcher. Lieutenant. Deputy Commissioner in Burma. In the 1890s he taught Burmese at Oxford and at University College in London (1894), at least at…
SPRATT, Philip. Camberwell, London 26.9.1902 — Madras (Chennai) 8.3.1971. British Journalist and Politician in India. Son of Herbert Spratt, a schoolmaster, and Norah Walsh, a Baptist home. From 1921 studied mathematics at Downing College, Cambridge, soon became communist. In 1926 went to India as a Comintern agent, arrested 1927, but…
SORLEY, Herbert Tower. 12.4.1892 — 7.8.1968. British Civil Servant in India, Sindhi Scholar. Son of John T. Sorley, City Chamberlain of Aberdeen. M.A. 1914 Aberdeen. Served in I.C.S., apparently until 1947. In 1939 he was Collector of Bombay, then Chief Secretary to Government, Political and Services Department, Bombay. D.Litt. C.I.E.…
SOMS (Y) CASTELÍN, Enrique. 1860 — 1913. Spanish Linguist. Ph.D. Professor of Greek at Salamanca, from 1891 at Madrid. After Gelabert y Gordiola’s death (1894) taught Sanskrit classes at Madrid University until Daza de Campos was nominated in 1897. Friend of Miguel de Unamuno. Publications: Translated G. Curtius’ Gramática griega…
SMÉKAL, Odolen. Olomouc 18.8.1928 — Prague 17.6.1998 (or 13.6.). Czech Indologist (Hindi Scholar). Son of Václav Martin Smékal (1890–1948) and Anežka Smičková. Matriculated from gymnasium in Kroměříž.Studies at Charles University in Prague (Pořízka), matriculated 1952. Ph.D. in Hindi. From 1954 taught Hindi at Charles University. In 1993-96 diplomat in New…
SITTIG, Ernst. Berlin 1.2.1887 — Tübingen 25.12.1955. German Linguist and Classical Scholar. Professor in Tübingen. Educated in Berlin, studies at Jena, Berlin and Halle. Ph.D. 1911 Halle. In WW I served in the decipherment department of the army and in 1919-24 continued same work in Foreign Ministry. PD 1923 Berlin,…
SINGER, Milton Borah. Warsaw, Poland 15.7.1912 — Chicago 5.12.1994, when 82. U.S. Anthropologist of India. Born in a Jewish family in Poland, son of Julius Singer and Esther Greenberg. The family emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1920, settling in Detroit, 1921 naturalized. Studies of psychology (B.A. 1934) and philosophy (M.A.…
SIMON, Ernst Julius Walter (Ximen Xuade). Berlin 10.6.1893 — London 22.2.1981. German Sinologist and Sino-Tibetan Scholar in the U.K. Professor in London. Son of mathematician Heinrich Simon (1859–1930) and Cläre Abraham (murdered in Ghetto Theresienstadt). Studies of classical and Romance philology in 1911-14 at Berlin, 1915-18 in army. Employed in…