RANKING, George Speirs Alexander. Hastings, Sussex 1.1.1852 — Caversham, Berkshire 14.6.1934. British Physician and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of Robert Ranking (1785–1867) and Isabella Spiers (1810–1883). Educated at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire and St.Catharine’s College in Cambridge, studied medicine in London. In 1875-1905 in Indian Medical Service, finally as Lieutenant-Colonel. M.A.…
RAMSAY, William. 15.6.1834 — 30.11.1901. British (Scottish) Civil Servant in India. Son of Sir George Ramsay (1800–1871), 9th Bart., and Emily Eugenia Lennon. In Bombay Civil Service. In 1866 in Baitul, Central India (Betul in Madhya Pradesh). Married Harriot Wollaston Dennis (d. 1929), two sons. Publications: Report on the land revenue…
RAMSAY, Horatio Nelson. London 13.12.1805 — Malligaum, New South Wales 20.5.1846. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Thomas Ramsay and Jane Sills. Served in Bombay Native Infantry, later went to Australia. Captain (from 1823 until death). Died of cholera. Married 1827 Catherine Turner (1810–1876), four daughters and four sons.…
RAMSAY, E. Wardlaw. 18?? — 19??. Miss. British (Scottish) Missionary in India. Worked many years among Korkus in Central India. E. Stock, History of the Church Missionary Society. Suppl. vol. L. 1916, 125 says that one Miss E. Wardlaw-Ramsay came to Palestine in 1889 and died in Jaffa in 1913, but…
RALSTON, William Ralston Shedden (born W. R. Shedden). London 4.4.1828 — London 6.8.1889. British Author, Translator and Russian Philologist. Son of William Patrick Ralston Shedden (1794–1880), a wealthy merchant with Scottish background who had long been in Calcutta, and Frances Sophia Browne. Grew up in Brighton and in Brixham, Devonshire. In…
RAE, George Milne. Udny, Aberdeenshire 2.9.1840 — Edinburgh 24.3.1917. Rev. British (Scottish) Missionary in South India. Son of John Rae (1800–1856) and Isobel Milne. Studies at Aberdeen (M.A. 1863). Ordained as missionary in 1867. Taught at Madras Christian College and Madras University. Retired 1891 and settled in Edinburgh. D.D. 1893…
PUXLEY, Edward Lavallin. Bristol or Clifton, Gloucestershire (?) 1835 — Croydon, London 30.6.1909. Rev. British (Irish?) Missionary in India. Son of John Lavallin Puxley (1800–1837) and Fanny White (1805–1857). From 1852 studies at Oxford (Brasenose College). From 1859 worked among Santals for Church Mission Society, said to have been the first…
PIRES, Tomé. Lisbon or Leiria 1468? — China 1540? or little earlier. Portuguese Traveller. Son of an apothecary, followed his father in this profession. Apothecary of Prince Alfonso (d. 1491). Came to India in 1511, as apothecary and not very young, obtained soon official position under Albuquerque and went to…
PULLAN, Ayrton. Staveley, Derbyshire 31.3.1834 — Clifton, Cumbria 30.4.1891. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. Benjamin William Pullan (1803–1838) and Catherine Dewhurst (1797–1881), educated at Cheltenham College 1844-54. In 1856 joined Bengal Native Infantry. Participated in the Trigonometrical Survey in Kathiawar and Cutch. Colonel 1886. He was a…
PUGLISI PICO, Mario. Aci S.Antonio near Catania 31.12.1867 — Parma 11.12.1954. Italian Philosopher, Theologian and Ecumenical Methodist. Professor (in Florence?). Founded Associazione per il Progresso Morale e Religioso. Publications: Translated: Consigli ai cattivi poeti, poema Indostanica. Palermo 1891 (Mīr Taqī Mīr’s Ajgarnāma). – Much on Italian (esp. Sicilian) literature, religion, philosophy, etc. Sources: S. Corso,…