DELITZSCH, Friedrich Conrad Gerhard. Erlangen 3.9.1850 — Langenschwalbach (now Bad Schwalbach near Wiesbaden) 19.12.1922. German Assyriologist, started with Sanskrit. Professor in Leipzig, Breslau and Berlin. Son of the famous Old Testament scholar (Luth.) and Leipzig Professor Franz Delitzsch (1813–1890) and Clara Silber. In 1868-72 studied at Leipzig and Berlin Sanskrit…
DEKKER, Gerbrand Jan. Westzaan, North Holland 7.10.1882 — 1964. Dutch Orientalist and Scholar of Religion in Switzerland. Son of Klaas Dekker and Clazina Fortanier. Ph.D. Private scholar living in Meilen near Zürich. Married with Ellen. Publications: Die Rückwendung zum Mythos: Schellings letzte Wandlung. 220 p. Munich 1930. – “Der Kundalinī-Yoga.…
DEECKE, Ernst Georg Wilhelm. Lübeck 1.4.1831 — Strassburg (Strasbourg) 2.1.1897. German Linguist, Founder of Etruscology. Son of Konrektor Ernst Deecke (1805–1862) and Christine Müller (1805–1838). Gymnasium in Lübeck, studies of Classical and Comparative IE Philology at Leipzig and Berlin (under Bopp et al.). Ph.D. 1870 Leipzig. Taught at schools in…
CORBIN, Henry (born Henri Eugène Corbin). Paris 14.4.1903 — Paris 7.10.1978. French Philosopher, Theologian and Scholar of Iranian Religion and Islam. Son of Henri Arthur Corbin and Eugénie Fournier (d. 1903), grew up with an aunt. Born in a Protestant family, but had catholic education. Studied philosophy in Paris (degree…
CODRINGTON, Humphrey William. Hambleden, Buckinghamshire 25.9.1879 — Kensington, London 7.11.1942. British Scholar of Sri Lankan History and Ethnography. Son of the rear-admiral William Codrington (1832–1888) and Mary Auber Leach (1855–1930), educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford (B.A.). In 1903 joined Ceylon Civil Service. In WW I served in…
CLAUSON, Gerard Leslie Makins. Valletta, Malta 28.4.1891 — Chelsea, London 1.5.1974 (or 1973?). Sir. British Linguist and Central Asian (especially Turkish) scholar, but began with Pāli studies. Son of major Sir John Eugene Clauson (1866–1918) and Mary Elizabeth Makins (1862–1949). Educated at Eton, studies at Corpus Christi College, Oxford (classical…
CHARDIN, Jean-Baptiste (1681 Sir John Chardin). Paris 16.11.1643 (Julian 6.11.) — Chiswick, London 5.1.1713 (25.12.1712). French Huguenot Jeweller and Traveller. Sent to the east by his father, the wealthy Parisian jeweller Daniel Chardin, in 1664 he visited Persia (entering the service of Shah Abbas II in Isfahan), then Surat and…
BURTON, Richard Francis. Barnham House, Elstree, Hertfordshire 19.3.1821 — Trieste 20.10.1890 (Dingle & Garrett: born in Torquay, Devon, Penzer explains: born in Toquay, baptised in Elstree, Herts). Sir. British (partly of Irish origin) Oriental Scholar, Pioneer of Anthropology, Traveller and Diplomat. Son of colonel Joseph Netterville Burton (1782–1857) and Martha…
BUNSEN, Christian Karl Josias (then Karl, Freiherr von Bunsen). Korbach, Waldeck 25.8.1791 — Bonn 28.11.1860. German Diplomat and Scholar. Son of a Dutch officer, Heinrich Christian Bunsen, who died already before his birth in 1790 (but see below), and Johanette Brocken (or Brocki, 1750–1819). School in Korbach, studies of theology…
BROWNE, Edward Granville. Uley near Dursley, Gloucestershire 7.2.1862 — Cambridge 5.1.1926. British Oriental Scholar (mainly Persian, Turkish and Arabic, also Hindi-Urdu). Professor in Cambridge. Son of Sir Benjamin Chapman Browne (1839–1917), a civil engineer, and Annie Atkinson. Educated at Trinity College in Glenalmond and at Eton. Studies at Pembroke College,…