BLATTER, Ethelbert (or Edelbert). Romanshorn, Appenzell 15.12.1877 — Pune 26.5.1934. S.J. Swiss Catholic Missionary Scholar in India. Son of the elder Edelbert Blatter, a physician. After father’s early death raised by his physician uncle in Rebstein, St.Gallen. School in Rebstein, Sarnen and Schwyz. Joined S.J. 1896, studied in Valkenburg, Netherlands.…
BLATT, Heinrich. Steinbach am Glan in Nordpfälzer Bergland 10.3.1894 — Erlangen 1.4.1949. German Indologist. Librarian in Würzburg. After gymnasium in Speyer studies of classical, Germanic and IE philology at Munich, Leipzig, Berlin and Würzburg. Ph.D. 1923 Erlangen. From 1923-46 he was working at University Library (Staatsbibliothek an der Universitätsbibliothek) in Würzburg,…
BLATT, Gustaw (Gerszon). Jarosław in South-Eastern Poland 15.2.1858 — Lwów (L’viv) 17.9.1916. Polish Linguist (IE and Slavic). From 1879 studies of classical and Slavic philology at Cracow, student of Lucjan Malinowski. Ph.D. there 1893. Further studies of IE and Sanskrit at Leipzig under Brugmann, Windisch and Leskien. Teacher at Jewish…
BLAQUIERE, William Coates. 1759 (?) — Calcutta 14.8.1853. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Jacques/Jacob Blaquiere (1726–1791). Came to India with his merchant father in 1777. He is said then to be of 13, which makes the year of birth too early (note also the late death). Worked then…
BLANFORD, William Thomas. London 7.10.1832 — London 23.6.1905. British Geologist and Zoologist in India. Son of William Blanford (1792–1876), a factory owner, and Elizabeth (Harriet?) Simpson, educated at private schools in Brighton and Paris. Joined the family business in carving and gilding and because of ill-health spent two years in…
BLAND, Nathaniel (born Nathaniel Crumple). Liverpool 3.2.1803 — Bad Homburg, Hessen, Germany 10.8.1865. British Oriental (Persian) Scholar. Son of the elder Nathaniel Bland (Crumple, 1765–1840), who was of Irish origin, but had changed his name and settled at Randalls Park in Leatherfield, and Arabella O’Neil. Educated at Eton (1818-) and…
BIRDWOOD, George Christopher Molesworth. Belgaum, India 8.12.1832 — Ealing, London 28.6.1917. Sir. British Physician and Botanist in India interested in Science and in Colonial History. Son of General Christopher Birdwood (1807–1882) of Indian Army and Lydia Juliana Taylor, his brother was Herbert Mills Birdwood (1837–1907) of I.C.S., also a botanist.…
BIRD, James. 1797 — Gerrard Cross, Buckinghamshire 10.7.1864. British Physician in India interested in Archaeology, Epigraphy and Numismatics. Educated from 1810 at King’s College, Aberdeen, M.A. 1814, then at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals. Dr. med. 1816. From 1818 served in Bombay Presidency, first as assistant surgeon. In 1826-32 residency…
BIOT, Jean Baptiste. Paris 21.4.1774 — Paris 3.2.1862. French Historian of Science, especially Astronomy. Son of a treasury official, Joseph Biot (1740–1821) and Marie-Josephine Decressy, educated at Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Joined the army in 1792, but sent to home because of failing health in 1794. Graduated as an engineer and taught…
BINYON, Laurence Robert. Lancaster 10.8.1869 — Reading, Berkshire 10.3.1943. British Art Historian, Dramatist and Poet. Son of Rev. Frederick Binyon (1838–1900) and Mary Dockray. Educated at St.Paul’s School in London, studied classics at Trinity College, Oxford (graduated 1893). From 1893 worked in Printed Books Dept. of British Museum, in 1915-33…