WILKS, Mark. Isle of Man 1759 — Kelloe House, Berwickshire 19.9.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. James Wilks (1719–1777) and Elizabeth Christian, a family of Manx gentry. Joined the E.I.C.’s army and went to Madras in 1782. Learned soon Persian. In 1786 Deputy Secretary to the Military…
WILKEN, Friedrich. Ratzeburg, Holstein 23.5.1777 — Berlin 24.12.1840. German Historian and Oriental Scholar. Professor in Heidelberg and Berlin. Of modest origin, son of Christian Erich Wilken, a valet, and his wife Sophie. After Domschule of Ratzeburg from 1795 studies of theology and history at Göttingen, also Oriental languages under J.…
WIJK, Walter Emile van. Amsterdam 23.1.1887 — Arnhem 14.11.1961. Dutch Scholar of Chronology and History of Science. Son of Wouter van Wijk (1854?–1915), an insurer, and Emilie Hunziker (1858?–1942). Studies of science at Leiden, 1920 dr. in chemistry. Even before this worked as teacher in adult education. PD of Chronology…
WHEELER, Mortimer (Robert Eric Mortimer; “Ric”). Glasgow 10.9.1890 — Surrey 22.7.1976. Sir. British archæologist. Son of journalist Robert Wheeler and Emily Baynes. Grew up in Edinburgh and near Bradford in Yorkshire (where school). Studies at London University College, in 1914 begun his work as archæologist and married. In 1914-18 in…
WHEELER, James Talboys. Oxford 22.12.1824 — Ramsgate, Kent 13.1.1897. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Son of James Luft Wheeler, a bookseller, and Anna Ophelia Talboys, privately educated. “Began as a publisher and book-seller. [During Crimean War] War Office extra clerk. Went to Madras to edit the Madras Spectator,…
RUDENKO, S. I. 1885 — 1969. Russian Art Historian and Archaeologist. A specialist of Scythian antiquity. Publications: Kul’tura naselenija Gornogo Altaja v skifskoe vremja. M. 1953, English by M. W. Thompson, Frozen tombs of Siberia: the Pazyryk Burials of Iron-Age Horsemen. 31+340 p. 180 p. Berkeley – L.A. 1970. – Kul’tura…
RODRÍGUEZ (Y) PINILLA, Tomás. Salamanca 2.11.1814 — Madrid 1886. Spanish Historian and Politician. Studied law at Salamanca. Professor at Salamanca. Publications: Carácter propio de la civilización oriental índica y de sus relaciones con la llamada indoeuropea o indogermánica. 31 p. Madrid 1863. – Other works, mainly in Spanish on history.…
ROBERTSON, William. Borthwick, Midlothian 19.9.1721 — Edinburgh 11.6.1793. British (Scottish) Historian. Son of Rev. William R. (1686–1745) and Eleanor Pitcairn, educated at Borthwick Parish School and Dalkeith Grammar School. He studied theology at Edinburgh, 1733-41. In 1743-59 minister at Gladsmuir in East Lothian, then in Edinburgh. Rector (Principal) of Edinburgh…
RIVETT-CARNAC, John Henry (Harry). London 16.9.1838 — Vevey, Vaud, Switzerland 11.5.1923. British Colonial Officer and Scholar of Indian Prehistory. Colonel. Born in a family with long tradition of Indian service, son of Admiral John Edward R.-C. (1796–1869) and Maria Jane Davis. In 1858-94 worked in Bengal Civil Service (i.a. as…
RICHARDSON, Hugh Edward. St.Andrews 22.12.1905 — St.Andrews 3.12.2000. British (Scottish) Tibetologist. Son of an army medical officer, Colonel Hugh Richardson, and grandson of an I.C.S. officer (Henry Cockburn R.), his mother was Elizabeth McClean. After Trinity School in Glenalmond studied classics at Keble College, Oxford. In 1928 (or 1930?) he…