BÜCHI, Ernst Carl. Aadorf, Thurgau 3.9.1914 — Löhningen, Schaffhausen 1.11.1981. Swiss Physical Anthropologist. Professor in Berlin. Grew up in Thurgau, school in Schaffhausen. Studies at Zürich, Ph.D. 1942 under Schlaginhaufen. Assistant, then PD of geography at Zürich. Second Ph.D. 1949 Copenhagen. From 1950-58 Superintendent in Department of Anthropology in Calcutta,…
BRUNNER, Linus. Woollen, Canton Aargau 7.3.1909 — St.Gallen 3.12.1987. Swiss Linguist. Son of Linus Brunner, a farmer. Ph.D. 1936 Zürich. Professor ar Canton School in St.Gallen. Few have accepted his far-reaching theories. Publications: Diss. Entwicklung der Funktionen der lateinischen Konjunktion dum. 110 p. Tübingen 1936. – Die gemeinsamen Wurzeln des semitischen…
BRUCE, John. Fife 1744/45 — Fife 16.4.1826. British (Scottish) Historian of the Colonial Period. Son of shipmaster Andrew Bruce (1716–1761) and Jean Squyre. Studies at Edinburgh, then Professor of Logic and Moral Philosophy there. Historiographer of E.I.C. from 1801. In 1809-14 M.P. for Michell, Cornwall. Founding member of Royal Society…
BRODIE, Alexander Oswald. Madras 1821 — Edinburgh 5/6.11.1874. British (Scottish) Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Son of Colonel James Brodie (1782–1831), of Madras Army, and Eliza Thompson. From 1845 in Ceylon rising to Assistant Agent at Matale, in 1853 returned to the U.K., got married and resigned from service in…
BRANDT, Francis. Pendleton, Lancashire 6.5.1840 — Cheltenham, Gloucestershire 17.7.1925. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Robert Brandt and his wife Margaret. Educated at Cheltenham College, became famous as cricketer. After graduation from Oxford (Brasenose College, B.A. 1870) joined I.C.S. in 1862, served in South India. From 1884 Judge in…
BRADDOCK, John. Westminster 1794 (bapt. 30.4.) — Madras 9.8.1840. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of John Braddock, a master refiner of saltpetre, and his wife Sarah . Served in Madras army as “an expert making gunpowder”. In the Preface to gunpowder book, signed in Madras 1830, he says to…
BONET-MAURY, Amy Gaston Charles Auguste. Paris 2.1.1842 — Paris 20.6.1919. French Protestant Historian. Son of General Frédéric Bonet (catholic) and Julie Chabrier (protestant). After school in Paris (lycée Henri IV) studies of theology at Geneva and Strasbourg, graduated 1867 from Strasbourg. Protestant pastor in Dordrecht 1867-72, Beauvais 1872-76 and Saint-Denis 1877-79. From…
BOER, Richard Constant. Warnsveld near Zutphen 31.1.1863 — Amsterdam 20.8.1929. Dutch Linguist. Son of Richard Willem Boer and Constantia Gisius Nanning. Ph.D. 1888 Groningen. In 1888-1900 taught Dutch and geography at gymnasium in Leeuwarden, also PD at Groningen. In 1900-29 Professor of Old Germanic and Sanskrit at Amsterdam, after 1921…
BETTS, Ursula Violet Graham (née U. V. G. Bower). Wiltshire 15.5.1914 — Fordingbridge, Hampshire 12.11.1988. British Anthropologist. Daughter of Commander John Graham Bower (1886–1940) of Royal Navy and Doris Violet Coghlan White (1893–1985). Educated at Roedean School, but family difficulties prevented planned studies of archaeology at Oxford. First visit to…
BERTRAND, Gabrielle. Reims 29.3.1908 — Paris 16.2.1961. French Traveller, Reporter, Writer and Photographer. Of Lorraine, lost her father in WW I. Studied at a hospital in Paris, but did not pass medical examination. Then she worked in various tasks and decided to become reporter. In 1933-35 travelled in North Africa,…