FREI, Henri. Baar, Zug 5.6.1899 — Hedingen, Canton Zürich 14.11.1980. Swiss Linguist. Professor in Geneva. Son of Gustav Adolf Frei, an industrialist, and Ida Dändliker. Studies of linguistics at Geneva and Paris (É.L.O.V.) until 1926 (including New Indo-Aryan and Japanese). Ph.D. 1929 Geneva (under Bally). In 1933-34 Professor at National…
FORCHHAMMER, Emmanuel. St.Antönien, Chur 12.3.1851 — Myingyan 26.4.1890. Swiss Indologist (Pāli Scholar) in Burma, Pioneer of Burmese Archaeology. He was born in Switzerland as the son of Rev. Christian Gottlieb F. (1814–1859, came from Schleswig-Holstein), Lutheran minister in Prätigau, and Elisabeth Schlegel (1824–1891, Swiss), his brother was the church musician…
FAZY, Robert. Foëcy, Cher (France) 28.6.1872 — Lausanne 2.3.1956. Swiss Judge interested in Oriental Studies. Son of an engineer and economist, of ancient Genevan family. During his childhood he lived in France, Silesia, and Bern. After studies of science and law at Geneva he worked from 1897 as a lawyer…
DEBRUNNER-RUDIN, Johann Albert. Basel 8.2.1884 — Bern 2.2.1958. Swiss Linguist. Professor in Bern and Jena. Son of Albert D., a potter, and Elisabeth Schaub, educated in Basel. From 1902 studies of classical philology and comparative linguistics at Basel (Sommer) and Göttingen (Wackernagel). Ph.D. 1907 Basel. In 1907-18 schoolteacher in Schiers,…
BAER, Emil. Rifferswil in Loo, Canton Zürich 23.12.1884 — Dielsdorf, Canton Zürich 8.11.1945. Swiss Priest and Student of Indology. Son of the factory owner Theodor B. and Anna Leuthold. School at home village, in Affoltern and in Zürich, from 1906 studies at Zürich: theology, Arabic and Sanskrit, from 1906 classical…
CUENDET, Georges. Geneva 5.9.1897 — 1980. Swiss Linguist interested in Sanskrit. Educated at Collège de Genève, studies at universities of Geneva (Bally), Basel, and Paris (Meillet at É.P.H.É., also É.L.O.V.). Dr. ès lettres 1924 Geneva. In the 1930s teacher of Latin and Greek at Collège de Nyon and in 1938-63…
BRUNNHOFER, Gottlieb Hermann. Aarau 16.3.(21.3.?)1841 — Munich 28.10.1916. Swiss Indo-Iranian Scholar. Son of Gottlieb Br., a knifesmith, and Elisabeth Obrist. After Gymnasium in Aarau, studies of Philosophy at Zürich, Bonn, and Berlin, where Weber locked him to Indology. In 1866 assistant to Monier Williams in Oxford, 1867 to Max Müller…
BOURQUIN, Auguste Ali. Sonvilier, canton Bern 8.4.1848 — Denver 14.1.1928. Swiss Protestant Priest and Indologist. Son of Louis Alcide Bourquin and Zelie Chopard. In 1882 he was member of Scottish Mission at General Assembly Institution in Bombay, but returned soon after that to Europe after having spent eleven years as…
BONER, Alice. Legnano, Lombardy 22.7.1889 — Zürich 13.4.1981. Swiss Artist (Sculptor) and Art Historian of India. Born in Italy of Swiss-English parents, engineer Georg B. and Alice Kathrine Brown, received training in sculpture and painting in Basel, Brussels and Munich. Worked in Zürich and 1928-35 in Paris, travelled in Tunisia…
BLONAY, Godefroy Jean Henry Louis de, baron. Niederschoenthal, Füllingsdorf (Basel-Land) 25.7.1869 — Biskra, Algeria 14.2.1937. Swiss Indologist. Born in his father’s (baron Gustave Louis de Bl.) castle, Château de Grandson, in an old Vaudian family, whose ancestor had founded the castle of Blonay in Vaud in c. 1175, mother was…