WILSON, Horace Hayman. London 26.9.1786 (date uncertain) — London 8.5.1860. British Indologist. In India 1808-32, then Professor in Oxford. Born in a modest family. Educated at Soho Academy in London and from 1804 studied medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital, but also learned the elements of minting. In 1808 left forBengal as…
WILSON, Charles Robert. Old Charlton, Kent 27.3.1863 — Clapham, London 24.7.1904. British Civil Servant (Teacher) in India, Historian of the Colonial Period. Son of Charles Wilson, an army tutor, and Charlotte Woodthorpe Childs (1817–1905). “Educated at City of London School and Wadham College, Oxford [B.A. 1887]; entered the Bengal Education…
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?–1916), 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 English journalist Robert Wheeler and Emily Baynes. Grew up in Edinburgh and near Bradford in Yorkshire (1899-1905 Bradford Grammar Shool). Studies from 1907 at London University College (graduated B.A. and 1912 M.A.), in 1914…
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 23.5.1886. Spanish Historian and Politician. Son of José Rodríguez, a liberal-minded silversmith, and María Pinilla. Studied law at Salamanca, bachiller en Leyes 1834 and en Cánones 1836. Professor at Salamanca. Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs in 1873. Married, children. Publications: Carácter propio de…
ROBERTSON, William. Borthwick, Midlothian 19.9.1721 — Edinburgh 11.6.1793. British (Scottish) Historian. The eldest son of Rev. William Robertson (1686–1745) and Eleanor Pitcairn (d. 1745), 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.…