WOODWARD, Frank Lee (nom-de-plume Vanapāla). Saham Toney, Norfolk 13.4.1871 — West Tamar (Rowella), Tasmania 27.5.1952. British Indologist (Pāli Scholar) and Bauddha (Theosophist). Son of an Anglican clergyman, Rev. William Woodward (d. 1912), and Elizabeth Mary Ann Lee. After traditional public school (Christ’s Hospital) in London came in the age of…
WOODROFFE, John George (pen-name Arthur Avalon). Calcutta 13.2./15.12. 1865 — Beausoleil (Alpes-Maritimes), France 16/18.1.1936. Sir. British Lawyer and Indologist in India. Son of of James Tisdall Woodroffe (1838–1908), later Advocate-General of Bengal (1899-1904), and Florence Hume. Educated in England, at Woburn Park Catholic public school, studies at University College, Oxford (B.C.L. 1888, M.A.). In…
WOLLHEIM DA FONSECA, Anton Eduard (also known as Wollheim von Secka). Hamburg 12.2.1810 — Berlin 24.10.1884. German Indologist. Born in a Catholic family (?) of Jewish origin as A. E. Wollheim (Wikipedia says he himself adopted catholicism only later), son of merchant Hirsch Jakob Wollheim and Antonie von Secka (Wikipedia)…
WINTERNITZ, Moriz. Horn/Nieder-Österreich 23.12.1863 — Prague 9.1. 1937. Austrian Indologist in Czechoslovakia. Professor in Prague. Son of a modest Jewish shop-keeper, Bernhard Winterniz (1821–1900) and Theresia Robitschek. Gymnasium in Horn. In 1880-85 studied at Vienna classics and philosophy, soon also Sanskrit (under Bühler). Ph.D. 1886 Vienna. In 1886-91 Assistant to…
WINDISCHMANN, Friedrich Heinrich Hugo. Aschaffenburg 13.12.1811 — Munich 23.8.1861. German Indo-Iranian Scholar and Theologian, Catholic Priest. Son of Professor —> K. J. H. Windischmann (1775–1839) and Anna Maria Pizzala, educated in Bonn. In 1827-32 studied at Bonn philosophy (under his father), classics and Sanskrit (von Schlegel & Lassen). Ph.D. 1832…
WINDISCH, Ernst Wilhelm Oskar. Dresden 4.9.1844 (or 14.9.?) — Leipzig (or Dresden?) 30.10.1918. German Indologist and Celtic Scholar. Professor in Leipzig. Son of a schoolteacher, Louis W. Windisch and Caroline Lamm.After Kreuzschule in Leipzig studiedfrom 1863 at Leipzig classics (under Ritschl), Germanic (Zarncke), Sanskrit (Brockhaus) and Comparative Linguistics (Curtius). As…
WILSON, John. Lauder, Berwickshire 11.12.1804 — near Bombay 1.12.1875. Rev. British (Scottish) Missionary in India, Indologist and Iranian Scholar. Son of Andrew Wilson, a farmer and township councillor of Lauder, and Janet Hunter, grew up in Lauder. From the age of 14 studied arts, then theology at Edinburgh, during holidays…
WILSON, Horace Hayman. London 26.9.1786 (date uncertain) — London 8.5.1860. British Indologist. In India 1808-32, then Professor in Oxford. Born in a modest family. Educated at Soho Academy in London and from 1804 studied medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital, but also learned the elements of minting. In 1808 left forBengal as…
WILLIAM OF RUBRUCK (Guglielmus de Rubruquis, Guillaume de Rubrouck, Willem van Ruysbroeck, Risbroucke). 1215/20 — after 1255. Flemish Traveller, a Franciscan Monk. Probably born in Rubrouck in French Flanders. In 1248 participated in the 7th Crusade. Head of the embassy sent by Louis IX of France to the Mongol Khan…
WILKINS, William Joseph. Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham bait. 29.1.1843 — Weaste, Salford 29.5.1902. Rev. British Missionary in India. Son of William Wilkins, a cordwainer, and Ann Smith. Educated at Hackney College and Highgate. Ordained, went to India in 1867 and remained four years as pastor in Calcutta. In service of…