RODET, Léon. 1832? — 1895. French Oriental Scholar and Historian of Mathematics. Several internet sources (e.g. Wikidata) give the impossible 1850 as his birth year (1832? in DataBnF). Studies at École polytechnique, Paris, then living in Paris styling himself only as a member of Société Asiatique, which perhaps indicates employment…
ROCK, Joseph Francis Charles (Josef Franz Karl Rock). Vienna 13.1.1884 — Honolulu 5.12.1962. Austrian-born U.S. Botanist, Geographer and Central Asian Scholar. Son of the steward of a Polish count. Not accepting his father’s wish to become a priest he began early travelling around Europe and in 1905 emigrated to the…
ROCCA, Vittorio. Leghorn 1.10.1862 — 19??. Italian Indologist. Docent in Rome. Studies at Pisa. From 1905 libera docenza in sanscrito at Pisa, apparently soon moved to Rome, still there in 1934. A specialist of dharmaśāstra, but also a fascist. Publications: Sulla valore della parola “barbaro” in India, in Grecia, in…
ROBERTSON, William. Borthwick, Midlothian 19.9.1721 — Edinburgh 11.6.1793. British (Scottish) Historian. The eldest son of Rev. William Robertson (1686–1745) and Eleanor Pitcairn (d. 1745), educated at Borthwick Parish School and Dalkeith Grammar School. He studied theology at Edinburgh, 1733-41. In 1743-59 minister at Gladsmuir in East Lothian, then in Edinburgh.…
ROBERTSON, George Scott. Southwark, London 22.10.1852 — London 2.1.1916. Sir. British (Scottish) Physician in India. Surgeon Major. Served and travelled in the North-West. Son of pawnbroker Thomas James Robertson and Robina Corston Scott, both of Orkney. “Educated at Westminster Hospital. Entered the Indian medical service, 1878, served in Afghan campaign,…
ROBERTS, Sydney Gordon. 18?? — 19??. British Civil Servant in South India. In 1899 already there, 1915-18 District and Sessions Judge in Cuddalore, then retired. Back in the U.K. he was Lecturer in Tamil and Telugu at Oxford (1924). He collected Tamil proverbs, assisted the preparation of Tamil Lexicon, and…
ROBERTS, Ernest Stewart. Swineshead, Lincolnshire 1847 — Cambridge 16.6.1912. Rev. British Classicist and Linguist. Lecturer in Cambridge. Son of Dr. Stewart Blacker Roberts (1819–1877) and Selina Milson (1829–1869). Educated at Boston School, studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Fellow there 1870, Tutor 1876, Senior Tutor 1885, President 1894 (or…
RIVETT-CARNAC, John Henry (Harry). Marylebone, London 16.9.1838 — Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland 11.5.1923. British Colonial Officer and Scholar of Indian Prehistory. Colonel. Born in a family with long tradition of Indian service, son of Admiral John Edward Rivett-Carnac (1796–1869) and Maria Jane Davis. In 1858-94 worked in Bengal Civil Service (i.a.…
RIVERS, William Halse Rivers. Luton near Chatham, Kent 12.3.1864 — Cambridge 4.6.1922. British Physician and Anthropologist. Son of Rev. Henry Frederick Rivers and Elizabeth Hunt, educated at Tonbridge. From 1882 studies of medicine in St.Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. In 1887 went as ship’s surgeon to Japan and North America. M.D. 1888…
RIVARA, Joaquim Heliodoro da Cunha. Arraiolos, Évora dt. 23.6.1809 — Évora 20.2.1879. Portuguese Physician, Colonial Civil Servant and Oriental Scholar, Specialist of Konkani and Marathi. Son of Italian father, Dr. António Francisco Rivara and and Maria Isabel da Cunha Feio Castelo Branco, of Spanish origin. Educated in Évora, then from…