NIKITIN, Afanasij. Tver 1433 (?) — Smolensk 1472 or 1475 (?). Russian Traveller in India. A merchant from Tver, he visited Persia and India, and wrote a good account of these countries. The chronology of his travel is uncertain. He left Tver in 1466, 1469, or 1471 and travelled via…
NIEUHOFF, Johan. Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim (Germany) 22.7.1618 — Madagascar 8.10.1672. Dutch Traveller in India in the middle of the 17th century. Son of the mayor of Uelsen. In 1640-49 in Brazil during the Dutch attempt to establish a colony there, then in the service of Dutch East India Company. Resided…
MUNDY, Peter. Before 1609 — after 1667. British Trader and Traveller. From Penryn in Cornwall, son of a pilchard trader. In 1611 he became a cabin boy in a merchantman, gradually arose to higher positions. Visited France, Constantinople and Spain. Three times in India in E.I.C.’s service in 1628-34, 1636,…
MILDENHALL (Midnall), John. Little Bedwell, Wiltshire 1560 — Ajmer June 1614. British Traveller in India, self-styled envoy of the E.I.C. to Mughal Court in 1603. Son of Sir John M. Being a London merchant, he travelled on his own account, without any official position, although he often pretended the opposite.…
MANDELSLO, Johann Albrecht von (Johan Albert v. M.). Schönberg, Mecklenburg 15.5.1616 — Paris 16.5.1644. German Traveller in India. Son of Hermann Clamor v. M. Started 1636 his travels together with his friend Adam Olearius (1599–1671) in Holstenian embassy to Persia, on his own he proceeded in 1638 from Isfahan to…
LE COQ, Albert von. Dahlem, Berlin 8.9.1860 — Berlin 21.4.1930. German Archaeologist and Central Asian Scholar. Born in a huguenot family in Berlin, son of André Auguste Le Coq (1827–1894; knighted “von” 1875) and Marianne Poppe. He was educated at Französisches Gymnasium (Berlin) and at Darmstadt gymnasium, but was dismissed…
HOUTMAN, Cornelis de. Gouda 2.4.1565 —off Acheh 1.9.1599. Dutch Traveller in India. Son of Pieter Cornelisz de H., a brewer, and Agnes Frederiksd., elder brother of —> Fr. de H. With his brother remained in 1592-93 as merchant in Lisbon, spying on Asian trade for an Amsterdam company. They were…
JOURDAIN, John. 15?? — 17.7.1619. British Traveller in India. Son of John J., a merchant and mayor of Lyme Regis in Dorset. Participated in the English Indian voyage of 1608, remained in Surat when others went to the Mughal court (—> Hawkins). In 1610 visited Agra (6 months), then joined…
HARE, Edward Miles. Leicester 4.3.1893 — Oldham, Hampshire 26.10.1955. British Pāli Scholar in Sri Lanka. Son of Charles Edward Hare and Agnes Pruen. Educated at Stamford School in Lincolnshire, where F. L. Woodward was his teacher and introduced him into Pāli. Served in WW I. In 1918-50 tea merchant in Sri…
GOSSELLIN, Pascal-François-Joseph. Lille 6.12.1751 — Paris 8.2.1830. French Merchant, Geographer and Historian of Geography. Born in a family of merchants, came early into family business. Member of Chambre de commerce in Lille, from 1784 of Conseil royal du commerce for Flanders, Hainaut and Cambrésis. Travelled much in Europe on business.…