PELSAERT, Francisco. Antwerpen 1595? — Batavia ?.9.1630. Dutch Factor in India and Indonesia. Born in a wealthy Roman Catholic family. In 1618 sailed to the East as Assistant, the lowest grade of the Dutch E.I.C.’s service. In 1620 promoted to junior factor (onderkoopman) and posted to India. Travelled overland from…
PAPI, Carmelo Dionisio Lazzaro. Pontito near Pescia, Tuscany 23.10.1763 — Lucca 25.12.1834. Italian Traveller and Historian. Son of Alberto Papi and Fiora Pierini. For a while studied in a seminary in Lucca, then served briefly in Neapolitan army, worked as tutor and studied medicine at Lucca and Pisa. In the early…
PALMER, Edward Henry. Cambridge 7.8.1840 — Sinai Peninsula 11.8.1882. British Oriental Scholar and Asian traveller. Son of William Henry Palmer, a private schoolmaster, and his wife Mary, lost early his father and soon also his mother, grew up with an aunt. After school in Cambridge he was sent to London…
PALLAS, Peter Simon. Berlin 22.9.1741 — Berlin 8.9.1811. German Botanist, Ethnologist, Naturalist and Linguist in Russian Service. Son of Simon Pallas (1694–1770), Professor of Surgery, and Susanne Lienhardi. Studies of medicine and natural sciences at Halle, Göttingen and Leiden (Dr.med. there 1760). Some years living in the Hague and Berlin,…
OVINGTON, John. Melsonby, Yorkshire bapt. 5.3.1653 — ?.6.1731. Rev. English Priest and Traveller. Son of James and Mary Ovington, a family of yeoman-farmers. Studies at Trinity College, Dublin from 1671, B.A. 1675, M.A. 1678. Then at St. John’s College, Cambridge. His ordination and life in next years remein unknown. When…
MODAVE, Louis Laurent de Féderbe, Count de (Fayd’herbe de Maudave). Château du Fayet, Barraux (Isère) 22.6.1725 — Masulipatam 22.12.1777. French Nobleman, Officer and Traveller. Son of colonel Jean Charles Nicolas Féderbe, Count de Modave and Marie Thérèse Maniquet du Fayet. As young officer participated in many European wars. Came to India as…
METHWOLD (Method), William. Baptised in South Pickenham near Swaffham, Norfolk 1590 — Kensington (London) 5.3.1653. British Merchant and Traveller in India. Son of Thomas Methwold and Susanna Hogan. Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a merchant, served four years in London and five in Middelburg in the Netherlands. In 1615 accepted as…
MANTEGAZZA, Paolo. Monza, Lombardy 31.10.1831 — San Terenzo, Lerici, Liguria 28.8.1910. Italian Physician, Author and Traveller, also a Darwinian Anthropologist. Son of Giovanni Battista Mantegazza and Laura Solar, a wealthy family. The mother was known as a social reformer and friend of Garibaldi. Studies at Pisa and Milano, M.D. 1854…
MACGREGOR, Charles Metcalfe. Agra 12.8.1840 — Cairo 5.2.1887. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer, Geographer and Explorer in India. Son of Major Robert Guthrie Macgregor of Bengal army and Alexandra Watson. Educated at Marlborough College in Wilrshire. At the age of 16 joined Indian army and had immediately to fight the 1857…
LE GOUZ DE LA BOULLAYE, François. Pontigné, Baugé, Anjou 1623 (or 1610?) — Isfahan early 1668. French Traveller. Son of Gabriel II Le Gouz )d. c. 1646) and Jeanne Le Bout. Born in a family of English origin, he served in the French troops of Charles I. Back in France…