MITSCHERLICH, Eilhard. Neuende, Herrschaft Jever 7.1.1794 — Schöneberg near Berlin 28.2.1863. German Chemist and Mineralogist, originally interested in Persian and Sanskrit. Professor of Chemistry in Berlin. Born in North-West Germany in an area then (1793-1807) under Russian rule as the son of Rev. Carl Gustav Mitscherlich (1762–1826) and Marie Elisabeth…
MINORSKY, Vladimir (Vladimir Fëdorovič Minorskij). Korčeva, obl. Tver 6.12.1877 — Cambridge 25.3.1966. Russian Persian Scholar in the U.K. Professor in London. Son of Fëdor Minorskij and Olga Golabickaja. Educated in Moscow and in 1896-1900 studied law at Moscow (graduated), then three years at Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages preparing for…
MILL, William Hodge. Hackney, Middlesex 18.7.1792 — Brasted, Kent 25.12.1853. Rev. British Teacher and Indologist in India. Son of John Mill, of Dundee, and Martha Hodge. Privately educated by Dr. Belsham, a Unitarian preacher, studies at Trinity College, Cambridge: B.A. 1813, Fellow of Trinity College 1814, M.A. 1816. In 1818…
MILES, William. 1780 — London 21.5.1860. British Colonial Officer in India. Major-General (1854). Cadet 1799, in 1800 joined the Bombay Native Infantry, served in operations against Baroda and in 1804 at Bhurtpore (Bharatpur). “Made a treaty in 1820 with the Raja of Rodanpur, commanded a regiment in the first Burmese…
MICHAEL, James. 17?? — 15.12.1837. British Colonial Officer and Oriental (Persian and Urdu) Scholar in India, then in 1827-37 Professor of Hindu Literature and Asian History at Haileybury. From 1934 also registrar of the College. Beside Persian and Hindustani he also knew Marathi. During his last years suffered of poor health…
MEZZOFANTI, Giuseppe Gaspare. Bologna 19.9.1774 — Rome 15.3.1849. Italian Polyglot, Cardinal. Born in a humble family as the son of a carpenter, Francesco Mezzofanti and Gesualda Dall’Olme, he showed early his talent in languages. Studied with the Piarists. Ordained priest 1797, he became Professor of Arabic, Hebrew and Greek at…
MENANT, Joachim. Cherbourg 16.4.1820 — Paris 30.8.1899. French Assyriologist, with interest in Iranian religion. Son of Joachim Menant and Amable Boissière, lost his father when 10. Educated in Cherbourg. He became a lawyer (studies at Caen) and worked in administrative positions in different towns (Cherbourg, Vire, Alençon, Lisieux, Evreux, Le…
MEIER, Ernst Heinrich. Rusbend, Schaumburg-Lippe 17.5.1813 — Tübingen 2.3.1866. German Semitic Scholar interested in Sanskrit. Son of a teacher of village school. Gymnasium in Bückeburg, 1827-34. Studied theology and Oriental languages from 1834 first at Jena and Göttingen, in 1838 followed his teacher —> Ewaldto Tübingen and then became his…
MARKWART, Josef (until 1922 Marquart). Reichenbach am Heuberg, Württemberg 9.12.1864 — Berlin 4/5.2.1930. German German Oriental Scholar. Professor in Berlin. Born in a Catholic peasant family, son of Anton M. (1834–1909) and Maria Magdalena Moser (1845–1909). Gymnasium in Rottenburg am Neckar and Rottweil. Studies of Catholic theology at Tübingen, but…
MALCOLM, John. Burnfoot,Dumfriesshire 2.5.1769 — Windsor 31.5. or 30.7.1833. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer, Diplomat and Historian in India. Major-General. Son of George Malcolm, a tenant farmer, and Margaret Pasley, educated at Westerkirk. In 1782 (when 13) joined Indian army and arrived at Madras 1783. In 1792 under Cornwallis at…