SPIEGEL, Ludwig Friedrich Ernst (1880 von Sp.). Kitzingen near Würzburg 11.7.1820 — Munich 15.12.1905. German Indo-Iranian Scholar. Professor in Erlangen. N.D.B. does not know the first names of his parents, but his father was a Rentamtmann living in 1759–1830, mother née Dorsch. Matriculated from Ansbach, began 1839 studies of theology…
SPEYER, Jacob Samuel (Speijer). Amsterdam 20.12.1849 — Leiden 1.11.1913. Dutch Indologist. Professor in Amsterdam, Groningen and Leiden. Born in a Jewish family, son of the elder J. S. Speyer and Elizabet Calisch. Educated in Amsterdam, studied three years classics at Athenaeum there, then Sanskrit at Leiden (under Kern). Ph.D. 1872 Leiden.…
SPENCER, Arthur Marshman. Calcutta 19.9.1886 — Calcutta 14.4.1943. British Wesleyan Missionary in Bengal. Son of William Marshman Spencer (1856–1935) and Elizabeth Tasker Williams (1857–1949). Educated at Kingwood School and Headingly College, Leeds. In 1911-32 worked in Sarenga (dt. Bankura, Bengal), then in Calcutta. Married 1915 Beatrice Mary Day (b. 1888),…
SOOTHILL, William Edward. Halifax, Yorkshire 23.1.1861 — Oxford 13.5.1935. Rev. British Missionary in China, then Sinologist and Buddhist Scholar. Son of William Soothill (1836–1893), a textile worker. As youngster worked in a solicitor’s office in Halifax. Interrupted his studies at London University deciding to become a missionary. Ordained priest 1882.…
SONTHEIMER, Günther-Dietz. Ulm 21.4.1934 — Dossenheim bei Heidelberg 2.6.1992. German Indologist, Specialist of Law, Popular Religion and Marathi. Professor in Heidelberg. Son of Dr. Walther Sontheimer (1890–1984), a teacher and schooldirector, and Herma Dietz. During the war living in mother’s home area, in the former Prussian Posen (Poznań). In 1945-53…
SÖDERBLOM, Lars Olof Jonathan (Nathan). Trönö, Hälsingland 15.1.1866 — Uppsala 12.7.1931. Swedish Theologian and Scholar of Comparative Religion. Professor in Berlin, then Archbishop of Sweden (Uppsala). Son of vicar Jonas Söderblom (1823–1901) and Nikolina Sophie Blume (of Denmark), matriculated from Hudiksvall. From 1883 studies at Uppsala (fil.kand. 1886, teol.kand. 1892).…
SMITH, Ronald Morton. Galashiels, Selkirkshire 25.8.1915 — Toronto 18.11.1996. British (Scottish) Indologist in Canada. The only child of John Smith (1880–1962) and Margaret Leitch. Educated at Bromsgrove School near Birmingham. Studies at St.Andrews (M.A. 1939 in classics), Oxford (Pembroke College, where he after the war service passedB.A. & M.A. 1947…
SMET, Richard V. de. Montignies-sur-Sambre near Charleroi 16.4.1916 — Brussels 2.3.1997. Father. S.J. Belgian Missionary and Indologist. Son of Jules de Smet and Marie Compère. Educated in Charleroi. Joined S.J. in 1934, then studied theology in Belgium. Came to India in 1946 as a Jesuit student, studied Theology and then…
SILBURN, Lilian. Paris 19.2.1908 — Le Vésinet (Yvelines) 19.3.1993. Mademoiselle. French Indologist. Daughter of English father, Walter John Silburn (1883–1928), and French mother, Berthe Hélène Dupuis (1880–1953). From 1938 studied philosophy, and soon also Indology under Masson-Oursel and Renou in Paris. Dissertation on Indian philosophy in 1949 in Paris. In…
SIERKSMA, Fokke Rypkes. Dantumawoude near Dokkum, Friesland 30.5.1917 — Leiden 22.8.1977. Dutch Scholar of Comparative Religion and Tibetan. Born in a religious family, son of Rijpke Sierksma and Janke Krol. Educated in Dokkum and Leeuwarden. From 1936 studies of theology at Groningen, but then interrupted because of the war Member…