WALTHER, Christoph Theodosius (Ñānavālutār). Schildberg in Neumark, Pomerania (now Golenice in Poland) 20.12.1699 — Dresden 29.4.1741. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology in India. Son of a minister, lost early his father and was educated by his maternal grandfather, Rev. David Torfstecher. After gymnasium in Stargard worked as teacher and…
RUTGERS, Antonie. Groningen 8.3.1805 — the Hague 18.10.1884. Dutch Oriental Scholar and Reformed Theologian interested in Sanskrit. Professor in Leiden. Son of Rev. Johannes Rutgers (1758–1834) and Eva Justina Brugmans. School and studies at Groningen: cand.litt. 1823, cand.theol. 1825, dr.theol. 1830. Also studies under Hamaker at Leiden. From 1829 pastor…
RUPP, Joseph. Hamberg near Priem, Upper Bavaria 14.3.1822 — Freising 24.9.1894. German Roman Catholic Priest and Schoolteacher interested in Indology. Studies of theology at Freising High School and Munich University. Ordained priest in 1845. Worked several years as priest in Upper Bavaria, from 1850 taught at Gymnasium in Freising (1858 as…
RUELL, Joannes (de Ruël, Ruellius). Leiden 1659/60 or 1663/64 — Colombo ?.5.1701. Dutch Priest in Ceylon, worked there as predikant in Colombo from 1692 until death, from 1698 also the first Rector of Sinhalese Seminary. He prepared a Sinhalese grammar, which was printed in Amsterdam in 1707 with help of…
ROUSSEL, Alfred. Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes (Ille-et-Vilaine), Brittany 17.1.1849 — Monsoult (Val d’ouse) 6.8.1921. French Indologist in Swizerland. Professor in Fribourg. Son of a butcher. After Collège de Saint-Malo studied at seminary of Rennes, ordained priest in 1873. Served as vicar, in 1887 joined Oratorians. Now studies of Indology in Paris under Bergaigne,…
ROTTLER, Johann Peter. Strassburg (Strasbourg) ?.6.1749 — Madras 24/27.1.1836. German Lutheran Missionary and Tamil Scholar in India. Educated at gymnasium and university in Strasbourg, ordained priest 1775 Copenhagen. Arrived at Tranquebar in 1776. Studied Tamil and botany, sent botanical specimens to Erlangen, Paris and especially London (Kew Garden) and became…
ROTH, Heinrich (Henricus Rodius, Roa). Dillingen 18.12.1610 — Agra 20.6.1668. S.J. German Missionary and Precursor of Indology. Son of Johann Konrad Roth (d. 1637), a lawyer, and his wife Maria Susanna (still living in 1664), grew up in Augsburg. Studies at Dillingen University and, after having escaped the attacking Swedish, at…
ROGER, Abraham (A. Rogerius). Haarlem (?) 1609 — Gouda 1649. Dutch Reformed Priest in India and Indonesia. Son of Abraham Rogiers and (probably) Johanna Dieremans. Studies at Leiden. In 1631 left for the east, visited Batavia (Jakarta) and Surat. Worked in 1631-47 as minister of Dutch congregations in India and…
ROBERTS, Ernest Stewart. Swineshead, Lincolnshire 1847 — Cambridge 16.6.1912. Rev. British Classicist and Linguist. Lecturer in Cambridge. Son of Dr. Stewart Blacker Roberts (1819–1877) and Selina Milson (1829–1869). Educated at Boston School, studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Fellow there 1870, Tutor 1876, Senior Tutor 1885, President 1894 (or…
RICE, Edward Peter. Bangalore 26.4.1849 — 11.12.1936. Rev. British Missionary and Scholar of Kannaḍa, in India. The youngest son of Rev. —> Benjamin H. Rice (1814–1887) and Jane Peach Singer (d. 1864). Educated at Chestnut College in Cambridge, studied at London University, B.A. Joined London Missionary Society, ordained 1873 and…