FERGUSON, Donald William. Colombo 8.10.1853 — Croydon near London 29.6.1910. British (Scottish) Journalist and Scholar of Sri Lankan History (especially of Colonial Period). Son of —> Alastair M. Ferguson (1816–1892) and Anne Mackerras. The father came to Ceylon in 1837, was a long time the chief proprietor and editor of…
DAMES, Mansel Longworth. Bath 1850 — Guildford, Surrey 8.1.1922. British Civil Servant, Baluchi Scholar and Historian of India. Son of Captain George Longworth Dames (1808–1860, of Irish background) and Caroline Amelia Brunswick. Passed the I.C.S. examination in 1868 and 1870 joined Bengal Civil Service, first posted to the Punjab. Served…
COUTO, Diogo do. Lisbon 1542 — Goa 10.12.1616. Portuguese Historian of Colonial India. Son of Gaspar do Couto and Isabel Serrão del Castro. Educated by Jesuits, then 1559-69 and, after brief visit to Portugal again from 1571 in military service in India and the East, remaining the rest of his…
COSTA DE MACEDO, Joaquim José da. Lisbon 25.4.1777 — Golegã 15.3.1867. Portuguese Historian. Son of Professor Agostinho José da Costa de M. Librarian, then Academician in Lisbon. In 1834-56 General Secretary of Academia das Ciências. Also other important public offices. Publications: Wrote on Portuguese and early colonial history. Sources: Several…
CORREIA, Gaspar. 1492? — Malacca or Goa 1563?. Portuguese Historian of Colonial India. In the age of 16 he went to India in 1512/14. Served as a soldier and became secretary of Afonso de Albuquerque. Around 1529 back to Lisbon, later again in India (Cochin). Some claim that he was…
CASTANHEDA, Fernão Lopes de. Santarem c. 1500 — Coimbra 23.3. or 6.6.1559. Portuguese Historian of Colonial India. Illegitimate son of Lopo Fernandez de Castanheda, royal officer, of an old family. In 1528 he accompanied his father to Goa. During ten years in India he visited Portuguese bases as far as…
CAMÕES, Luís Vaz de. Coimbra (or Lisbon?) 1524/25 — Lisbon 10.6.1580. Portuguese Poet. Born in a poor noble family, the only son of Simão Vaz de Camões and Ana de Sá de Macedo. Educated by Dominicans and Jesuits, briefly studied at Coimbra. Driven into difficulties in Lisbon he enlisted in…
BINGLEY, Alfred Horsford. Cranleigh, Surrey 28.5.1865 — Surrey 20.4.1944. Sir. British Colonial Officer. Son of Peregrine Taylor Bingley (1825–1886) and Alice Austin, educated at Kensington School and Sandhurst. Served in India from 1887. In 1901-11 served at Army Headquarters. Lieutenant General 1920, retired 1921. C.I.E. 1909. K.C.I.E. 1918. Married 1893…
ANKER, Peter (until 1788 Ancher). Fredrikshald 31.7.1744 — Øraker near Kristiania (Oslo) 17.4.1832. Norwegian Colonial Officer in Danish service in India. Son of trader and industrialist Erik Ancher (1709–1785) and Anne Cathrine Tank (1723–1761), brother of politician Carsten Tank Anker (1747–1824). In 1759-65 travelled with his brother in Europe, then…
ALEXANDER, James Edward. Stirling 16.10.1803 — Ryde, Isle of Wight 2.4.1885. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer in India. Son of banker Edward Alexander and Catherine Glas. Educated at Edinburgh, Glasgow and Sandhurst. In 1821 joined Madras cavalry. In February 1824 he visited the Ajanta Caves (he was not the first,…