KLAPROTH, Heinrich Julius von. Berlin 11.10.1783 — Paris 28.8.1835. German Oriental Scholar in Russia and France. Son of the mineralogist and chemist Martin-Heinrich Klaproth (1743–1817) and Christine Sophie Lehmann (d. 1803). Gymnasium in Berlin. As a fifteen years old schoolboy he started the study of Chinese from Bayer’s book. From…
KIRSTE, Johann Otto Ferdinand. Graz 1.10.1851 — Graz 2.5.1920. Austrian Indologist. Professor in Graz. Son of a ropemaker master Johann Martin K. in a Calvinist family originally coming from Posen, and Antoinette Hieronymus. In 1870-72 studies of classical philology and a little Sanskrit at Graz (under Schenkl). After brief periods…
KIRKPATRICK, William. Ireland (?) 1754 — Exeter 22.8.1812. British (Irish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of Colonel James K. (1739–1818) of Madras Cavalry, and Katherine Monro. Himself became cadet in 1771 and 1773 joined the Bengal Infantry. He was Persian Interpreter to General Stibbert, the Commander in Chief in Bengal…
KIRCHER, Athanasius. Geisa near Fulda 2.5.1602 — Rome 27.11.1680. Father. S.J. German Polyhistor and Oriental Scholar, a Pioneer of Coptology, a Precursor of Egyptology, a Sinologist, etc. Son of Johann K., Doctor of Divinity and teacher of Benedictines. Novice of S.J. 1618 in Paderborn, took his first vows 1620. In…
KING, Lucas White. Madras 28.9.1856 — Craig Veigh (or Aboyne), Deeside 23.8.1925. Sir. British (Anglo-Irish) Civil Servant in India, Oriental Scholar, Historian and Numismatist. Professor in Dublin. Son of Deputy Surgeon-General Henry King and Sophie Eccleston. Sent to Ireland in 1864, educated at Ennis College and Dublin University. B.A. &…
KIEPERT, Heinrich. Berlin 31.7.1818 — Berlin 21.4.1899. German Geographer, Cartographer, and Historian of Geography. Professor in Berlin. Son of Samuel K. (1763–1836), a merchant, and Christiane Henriette Beer. Educated at Joachimsthaler Gymnasium (where A. Meineke was his teacher), became soon interested in ancient history and geography. From 1836 studies of…
KELLGREN, Abraham Herman August. Kuopio 21.1.1822 — Helsinki 25.9.1856. Finnish Indologist and Orientalist. Professor in Helsinki. Son of Johan August Kellgren (1792–1859), an apothecary of Swedish origin, and Maria Magdalena Nylander (1798–1826). Educated at Helsingfors Lyceum in 1833-38 and from 1838 studied at Helsinki University. His original intention was to…
KEIL, Johann Karl Friedrich. Lauterbach bei Oelsnitz, Sachsen 26.2.1807 — Rödlitz, Sachsen 5.5.1888. German Oriental Scholar in Estonia. Professor in Dorpat (Tartu), started Sanskrit teaching there. Son of a Saxonian farmer, Johann Gottfried K. and his wife Anna Sophie. In 1821 moved to his uncle in St. Petersburg. He studied…
KÉGL, Sándor (Alexander von K.). Szúnyog near Pest 1.12.1862 — Áporka near Pest 29.12.1920. Hungarian Nobleman and Indo-Iranian Scholar. Born in a wealthy Catholic landowner family (knighted 1762). Inspired by Vámbéry’s travels he studied of several Oriental languages in Budapest (Persian, Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, Tatar, Sanskrit, Urdu, Chuvash, and Mordvin…
KEENE, Henry George. 30.9.1781 — Tunbridge Wells, Kent 29.1.1864. Rev. British Civil Servant and Oriental Scholar in India. Professor in Haileybury. Son of Thomas Keene and Jane Harris, grandson of the architect Henry Keene (1726–1776), privately educated. In 1798 joined the Indian Army and participated in the siege of Seringapatam…