BRUNNHOFER, Gottlieb Hermann. Aarau 16.3.(21.3.?)1841 — Munich 28.10.1916. Swiss Indo-Iranian Scholar. Son of Gottlieb Brunnhofer (1809–1874), a knifesmith, and Elisabeth Obrist. After Gymnasium in Aarau, from 1861 studies of Philosophy at Zürich, Bonn, and Berlin, where Weber locked him to Indology. In 1866 assistant to Monier Williams in Oxford, 1867…
BOURQUIN, Auguste Ali. Sonvilier, canton Bern 8.4.1848 — Denver 14.1.1928. Swiss Protestant Priest, Missionary 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…
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 Boner (1862–1947) and Alice Kathrine Brown. School in Italy, the family moved back to Switzerland only in 1911. Received training in sculpture and painting in Basel,…
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 Blonay, 1830–1900) castle, Château de Grandson, in an old Vaudian family, whose ancestor had founded the castle of Blonay in Vaud in c. 1175, his…
BLOCH, Alfred. Basel 18.4.1915 — Basel 11.7.1983. Swiss Indologist, IE and Semitic Scholar. Professor in Basel. Born in Jewish family, son of engineer Max Bloch (d. 1826) and Suzanne Weil. Studies of comparative linguistics, Greek, and Semitics at Basel in 1933-39. Ph.D. 1939 Basel. From 1942 PD at Basel, then…
BLATTER, Ethelbert (or Edelbert). Romanshorn, Appenzell 15.12.1877 — Pune 26.5.1934. S.J. Swiss Catholic Missionary Scholar in India. Son of the elder Edelbert Blatter, a physician. After father’s early death raised by his physician uncle in Rebstein, St.Gallen. School in Rebstein, Sarnen and Schwyz. Joined S.J. 1896, studied in Valkenburg, Netherlands.…
BERTHOLET(-SCHMID), Alfred Robert Felix. Basel 9.11.1868 — Münsterlingen, Thurgau 24.8.1951. Swiss Reformed Theologian and Scholar of Comparative Religion in Germany. Professor in Göttingen and Berlin. Son of David Felix Bertholet (1830–1906), a school director, and Sabine Wagner (1841–1894). Studies of Theology at Basel, also briefly at Strassburg (Nöldeke) and Berlin…
BERNOULLI, Johann. Basel 4.11.1744 — Berlin-Köpenick 13.7.1807. Swiss Scientist interested in India. Born in the family of famous mathematicians, himself a noted astronomer and called Johann III as the third scholar of this name in the family (his father was Johann II [1710–1790], mother Susanna König [1715–1803]). Studies of law…
BAUMGARTNER, Alexander. Sankt Gallen 27.6.1841 — Luxembourg 5.9. 1910. S.J. Swiss Jesuit Scholar and Indologist. Son of an influential politician (a federalist), Gallus Jacob Baumgartner (1797–1869) and Anna Elisabeth Reithard. Educated at the Gymnasiums of Chur and Einsiedeln and the Jesuit school of Feldkirch in Austria. Joined S.J. 1860 in…
BALLY, Charles-Louis. Geneva 4.2.1865 — Geneva 10.4.1947. Swiss Linguist and Greek scholar. Son of a teacher, Jean Gabriel Bally (1828–1870), and Elisa Henriette Louise Ruffini, lost early his father. From 1883 studied mainly Greek philology at Geneva, in the 1890s became de Saussure’s student, now also learned Sanskrit. Further studies…