TOMASCHEK, Wilhelm (Vilém Tomášek). Olmütz, Moravia (now Olomouc in Czechia) 26.5.1841 — Vienna 9.9.1901. Austrian (Czech) Geographer, Classical and Oriental Scholar. Son of gymnasium teacher Johann Adolf Tomaschek (d. 1849) and Katharina Kasparvan Radostin, a German family with Czech name. Gymnasium in Vienna. Studies of classical philology, linguistics (Fr. Müller, Miklosich),…
STRACHEY, Edward. Somerset 18.12.1774 — London 3.1.1832. British Civil Servant in India. Second son of Sir Henry Strachey, Bart. (1736–1810), and Jane Kelsall. The father had been Clive’s secretary in India. Himself studied 1790-91 at St.Andrews and then from 1793 served in India in diplomatic and judicial offices in Bengal…
STEWART, Charles. Lisburn, County Antrim, Ireland 1764 — Bath 19.4.1837. British Colonial Officer and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of Captain Poyntz Stewart (1736?–1823) and Magdalen Gayer (1736–1773). In 1781 joined E.I.C.’s army as cadet. Served in Upper India and Rohilkhand. From 1800-06 taught Persian at Fort William College. In…
SHEA, David. Limerick county 1777 — Haileybury 10.5.1836. British (Irish) Persian Scholar. Professor at Haileybury. Son of Daniel Shea, a farmer. Studied Classics at Trinity College in Dublin from 1793, in 1798 expelled as nationalist, having refused an oath to government, and went to England. He worked as tutor in…
ROUSSEAU, Samuel Kent. London, bapt. 20.9.1763 — London 4.12.1820. British Printer and Oriental Scholar. He is said to be a distant relative of J. J. Rousseau, of the English Huguenot branch of the family, descending from J. J. Rousseau’s granduncle, who had moved to London, but others deny this. Son of Philip…
ROSENMÜLLER, Ernst Friedrich Karl. Heßberg bei Hildburghausen 10.12.1768 — Leipzig 17.9.1835. German Arabist and Protestant Theologian. Son of Johann Georg Rosenmüller (1736–1815), a minister and rationalist theologian. Gymnasium in Giessen, studies at Leipzig, Ph.D. 1788. PD 1792, in 1796-1813 ao. Professor of Arabic, 1813-35 ord. Professor of Oriental Languages at Leipzig. Also…
ROGERS, Alexander. 1825/26 — 27.11.1910. British Civil Servant and Persian Scholar in India. Educated at Haileybury, in 1845 joined Bombay Civil Service, served in Northern Division. Collector and Magistrate 1860, Commissioner 1865, Member of Council 1872, retired 1879. Married 1847 Jane Georgina Davison (b. 1828), six daughters and three sons.…
RANKING, George Speirs Alexander. Hastings, Sussex 1.1.1852 — Caversham, Berkshire 14.6.1934. British Physician and Oriental Scholar in India. Son of Robert Ranking (1785–1867) and Isabella Spiers (1810–1883). Educated at Aldenham School in Hertfordshire and St.Catharine’s College in Cambridge, studied medicine in London. In 1875-1905 in Indian Medical Service, finally as Lieutenant-Colonel. M.A.…
PRYM, Eugen. Düren (between Aachen and Köln) 15.12.1843 — Bonn 6.5.1913. German Semitic Scholar. Professor in Bonn. Son of Richard Prym (1814–1894), a cloth manufacturer, and Ernestine Schoeller. Gymnasium in Düren. Studies of comparative linguistic and Oriental languages at Berlin, Leipzig (Fleischer) and Bonn (Gildemeister). Ph.D. 1868 Bonn, then brief…
PLUNKETT, George Tindall. Islington, London 8.8.1842 — Surrey 2.5.1922. British Colonial Officer in India. Lieutenant-Colonel. Son of Valentine William Plunkett (1803–1888) and Marianne Tindall, educated at Woolwich Military Academy, entered army 1862. Colonel 1889, retired 1894. Director of Science and Art Institutions, Dublin in 1895-1907. C.B. 1901. Married 1865 Emily…