GUMILËV, Lev Nikolaevič. Carskoe Selo 18.9.(1.10.)1912 — St.Petersburg 15.6.1992. Russian Historian of Central Asia, Archaeologist and geographer, also writer and translator. Son of Nikolaj Stepanovič Gumilëv (1886–1921) and Anna Ahmatova (1889–1966), both well-known poets who divorced when he was still a child. Because of his parents he was not allowed…
GUIGNES, Joseph de. Pontoise (Seine-et-Oise) 19.10.1721 — Paris 19.3.1800. French Oriental Scholar, a Pioneer of Sinology and Precursor of Indology. Professor in Paris. Son of Jean Louis de Guignes and Françoise Vaillant. Recommended by his cousin, Professor Le Vaillant, he was accepted as a student by the Sinologist Etienne Fourmont…
GÜNTERT, Hermann Georg Konrad. Worms 5.11.1886 — Heidelberg 23.4.1948. German IE scholar. Professor in Heidelberg. Son of a Roman Catholic merchant and Protestant mother of Huguenot background, himself followed mother. Educated in Weinheim and, after father’s death in 1897, in Worms. In school he learned Hebrew and privately Sanskrit. Matriculated…
GRÜNWEDEL, Albert. Munich 31.7.1856 — Lenggries bei Bad Tölz, Bavaria 28.10. (or 7.11.?) 1935. German Indologist, Tibetologist, Archaeologist and Art Historian. Museum Director in Berlin. Son of Karl Grünwedel (1815–1895), a painter and lithograph, and Franziska (Fanny) La Roch, educated at Maximilians-Gymnasium in Munich. In 1876-79 studied at Munich classical…
GROUSSET, René Jean François Marie. Aubais (Gard) 5.9.1885 — Paris 12.11(9?).1952. French Historian of Asia. Lost his father before birth (Louis-Xavier-René Grousset 1860–1885, historian and poet). After history studies at Montpellier moved to Paris and started Museum work. Participated in the WW I as sergeant and was seriously wounded in…
GROTEFEND, Georg Friedrich. Hannoversch-Münden 9.6.1775 — Hannover 15.12.1853. German Philologist and Historian, the Famous Pioneer of Assyriology and Cuneiform Studies, Decipherer of the Old Persian Cuneiform Script. Son of Johann Christian Grotefend (1738–1813), a shoemaker, and Sophie Wolff (1737–1791). After Pädagogium in Ilfeld from 1795 studies of theology and philosophy…
GROSLIER, Bernard-Philippe. Phnom Penh 10.5.1926 — Paris 29.5.1986. French Archaeologist and Historian of South-East Asia. A specialist of Cambodia, but also wrote on Gandhāra art (1951). Son of Georges Groslier (1887–1945), the founder and first curator of the Museum of Phnom Penh, and Suzanne Cecile Poujade. Born in Cambodia he…
GRIFFIN, Lepel Henry. Walford, Hertfordshire 20.7.1840 (WikiTree ib. 20.7.1838) — London 9.3.1908. Sir. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Henry Griffin (1798–1863), a clergyman, and Frances Sophia Welsh, née Hunter. Educated at Harrow, never went to university. Joined the I.C.S. in 1860, served in the Punjab. In 1870 Chief…
GRENARD, Joseph-Fernand. Paris 4.7.1866 — Saint-Mandé (Val de Marne) 1.4.1945. French Traveller. Companion of Dutreuil de Rhins in his travels of exploration in Central Asia and Tibet. Son of telegraph official Alphonse Grenard and Jenny Panthin. Studied at École des sciences politiques and É.L.O.V. For particulars of the travel see…
GREN, Erik Idor Theander. Karlstadt 3.10.1904 — Uppsala 26.11.1959. Swedish Historian and Numismatician. Librarian in Uppsala. Son of Samuel Theander Gren (1863–1941) and Erika Svensson. Studies at Uppsala. From 1931 worked in University Library in Uppsala, in the end as Assistant Librarian. From 1941 also PD of classical history at…