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,…
BRIGGS, John. Madapollam, Madras 18.9.1785 — Burgess Hill, Sussex 27.4.1875. British Colonial Officer and Oriental Scholar, 1801-35 in India. Son of physician James (or John?) Briggs (1758–1830) and Martha Pybus (1758–1788), came to England 1789. Educated at Eton 1794-99. From 1801 in Madras infantry, participated in both Maratha wars. In…
BRIGGS, Henry George. Bombay 20.10.1824 — Bombay 4.7.1872. British Merchant, Traveller, and Orientalist. Son of Henry Briggs. In 1843 travelled in South Africa, in 1845 in China. In 1846 settled at the office of Briggs & Co. in Bombay. For a while lived in Karachi (1854/55), then from 1856 Assistant…
BORÉ, Eugène. Angers 15.8.1809 — Paris 3.5.1878. French Orientalist, especially Armenian Scholar. Son of an official who died in 1812, in 1828 also lost his mother. Educated in Angers and Paris, then studied languages: Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, Persian, Hebrew, Syriac and in 1833 Sanskrit. In 1833-34 Professor of Armenian at…
BOISEN, Lars Nannestad. Vesterborg, Lolland 8.2.1803 — Ibid. 22.4.1875. Danish Priest and Theologian interested in Sanskrit and Oriental Studies. Bishop of Vesterborg-Birket. Son of Peter Outzen Boisen (1762–1831), the bishop of Vesterborg, and Anna Nannestad (1775–1853). Educated by his father and in 1817-19 at Nykøbing school. From 1819 studies of…
BOHLEN, Peter von. Wüppels, Jeverland 13.3.1796 — Halle 6.2.1840. German Indologist and Orientalist. Professor in Königsberg. Son of a poor farmer, Christian Bohlen, belonging to an old Pomoranian noble family, and Frauke Margaretha Ocken. Parents died early and he had a checquered life. He took up the old title of…