LEXER, Matthias (Ritter von). Liesing im Lesachtal 18.10.1830 — Nürnberg 16.4.1892. Austrian Germanist in Germany. Son of Andreas Lexer (d. 1861), a mill owner and farmer, and Elisabeth Goller. After gymnasium in Klagenfurt studied from 1851 first law at Graz, but soon switched to German, then also at Vienna. After…
LEWIS, R. E. (or G. C.?). 1817? — Anerley ?.3.1899. British Businessman in Sri Lanka. Arrived in 1841, when 24, representing Parlett, O’Halloran & Co. In 1848-53 the editor of the Ceylon Examiner. In 1853 left for England, returned 1855 and worked in business. Finally returned to England in 1870. Publications: “The…
LEWIN, Thomas Herbert. Lewisham, London 1.4.1839 — Abinger, Surrey 11.2.1916. British Colonial Officer in India, Linguist and Ethnologist. Lieutenant-Colonel. Son of George Herbert Lewin (1808–1856), a law clerk, and Mary Friend (1811–1890). Educated at Littlehampton, Eltham and Addiscombe. In 1857 came to India and immediately had to participate in campaigns…
LE GOUZ DE LA BOULLAYE, François. Pontigné, Baugé, Anjou 1623 (or 1610?) — Isfahan early 1668. French Traveller. Son of Gabriel II Le Gouz )d. c. 1646) and Jeanne Le Bout. Born in a family of English origin, he served in the French troops of Charles I. Back in France…
LEEPER, Frederick James. Dublin 1831 — Vernham Dean, Wiltshire 16.1.1906. Rev. British (Irish?) Missionary in South India. Went to India in 1856, trained in Madras, ordained deacon 1857, priest 1860. Worked in Tinnevelly, Secunderabad, Kumbakonam, Tranquebar and Cuddalore. Retired in 1881, from 1887 curate of Vernham Dean. Married 1857 Mary…
LEDRUS, Michel. Gossellies, Wallonia 21.12.1899 — Rome 20.8.1983. S.J. Father. Belgian Theologian interested in Indian Thought. B.Litt. Ph.D. D.D. Taught at Louvain (1931) and at Università Gregoriana in Rome (1932-33), then apparently in Calcutta until 1939. Back in Rome, again teaching at Gregoriana. From 1949 spiritual director of Collegio Internazionale…
LECKEY, Edward. 1811 — West Derby, Lancashire 1870. Britishman, apparently in Bombay, where he served as clerk in Military Board Office in 1857. Married 1845 in Bombay Mary Smith (or 1850 Mary Derby?). Unlike the most writers of the time, he took in his 1859 book critical view of the…
LAYARD, Frederic Peter. Bath 6.5.1818 — Westminster 21.5.1891. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Peter Henry John Layard (1789–1834) and Marianne Austen. His elder brother, Sir Henry Austen Layard (1817–1894) was famous in Assyrian archaeology. Entered E.I.C.’s army in 1838, served in many places in northern India. Colonel 1864,…
LATTER, Thomas. India 1816 — Prome, Burma 8.12.1853. British Colonial Officer in Burma. Captain. Son of Major Barré Latter (1777–1822) and Juliana Anne Jeffreys (1793–1871). In 1836 joined Bengal Native Infantry, stationed in Arakan. Assistant Commissioner in Arakan, then Regional Superintendent of Forests in Burma, finally Deputy Commissioner in the…
LASERON, Nathan Edward (originally Nathan Ferdinand Laseron). Königsberg 15.8.1815 — Ootacamund 5.12.1868. Rev. German Missionary in Kerala. From East Prussia, born in a Jewish family, son of Wulf Saul L. (1784–1829) and Henrietta Simeon (d. 1829). Moved to Edinburgh. Connected with Church of Scotland he worked in Cochin preaching to local…