FOOTE, Robert Bruce. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 22.9.1834 — Calcutta 29.12.1912. British Geologist in South India, a Pioneer of Indian Prehistoric Archaeology. Son of physician Dr. William Henry Foote (1785–1835) and Sophia Wells. Joined the Geological Survey of India 1858 at the age of 24, remained there 33 years, working in South…
FONTANE, Marius Étienne. Marseille 4.9.1838 — Berck-sur-Plage (Pas-de-Calais) ?.8.1914. French Literate. In the age of 17 he joined a commercial house, in whose service he had to travel much, also in Asia. He met Ferdinand de Lesseps and became his secretary and thus participated in the work both in Suez…
FOLEY, Mary Cecilia. Wadhurst, Sussex 8.10.1859 — London 22.10.1925. British Geologist interested in Pāli. Daughter of Rev. John Foley (1805–1888) and Caroline Elizabeth Windham, sister of —> C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1858–1942), whom she then assisted in Pāli editions. Studied geology at London University College, B.Sc. 1891, Chief Lady…
FOKKER, Abraham Anthony. Karmat / Batavia 27.9.1862 — the Hague 1.1.1927. Dutch Indonesian Scholar. Born in Indonesia, son of Abraham Marinus Fokker (1823–1863) and Antonia Neeltje van Rijck. Ph.D. 1894 Leiden. Professor in Batavia (Jakarta), then taught Malay at Amsterdam University. Married 1885 Margaretha Wilhelmina Heemskerck (1869–1954), one daughter, and…
FLORSCHÜTZ, Josip (Josef). Agram (Zagreb) 8.3.1864 — Ibid. 22.9.1916. Croatian (Austrian) Linguist. Son of Franjo and Katarina Florschütz. From 1882 studies of Slavic, German and IE at Vienna, Ph.D. 1885 there (on Slavic). From 1895 schoolteacher in Zagreb. From 1908 ao. Professor for comparative IE linguistics, Sanskrit, Lithuanian, Gothic and…
FLORENZ, Karl Adolf. Erfurt 10.1.1865 — Hamburg 9.2.1939 (or 1.4.?). German Indologist and Japanologist. Professor in Tokyo and Hamburg. Son of Eduard Florenz, a teacher, and Susanne Walther. Catholic, educated at Erfurt Gymnasium. From 1883 studies of modern and Oriental languages at Leipzig, where G. von der Gabelentz prompted him…
FLEET, John Faithfull. Royston (Chiswick) 1.5.1847 — London 21.2.1917. British Indologist (Epigraphist and Historian). Son of John George Fleet (1818–1902), a wholesale sugar dealer, and Esther Faithful, educated at Merchant Taylor’s School in London. In 1865 he passed the I.C.S. examination and began studies at University College in London, including…
FLECHIA, Giovanni. Piverone (Piemonte) 6.11.1811 — Piverone 3.7.1892. Italian Indologist. Professor in Turin. Son of Carlo Flechia, a physician, and Teresa Mosca. As a young man worked as secretary in a noble family (of conti Balbo) in Turin and attended some courses at University, later also studies in Paris and…
FITZCLARENCE, George Augustus Frederick, First Earl of Munster. London 29.1.1794 — London 20.3.1842. British Officer and Traveller. Illegitimate son of the future king William IV and Dorothea Bland (née Jordan, 1761–1816, an actress from Ireland). Served as officer in Napoleonic wars and 1815-18 in India. Major-General. Earl and Privy Councillor…
FITCH, Ralph. Derby 1550 — London (?) 1611. English Merchant and Traveller in India. In February 1583 left London with other merchants of the Levant Company (with John Newberry as leader) with the purpose of opening trade with India. They travelled through Tripoli, Aleppo (May), Baghdad and Basra to Ormuz…