WINSTEDT, Richard Olaf. Oxford 2.8.1878 — Putney, London 2.6.1966. Sir. British South-East Asian (Malay) Scholar. Son of a naturalized Swedish father and English mother, Sarah Castell. Educated at Magdalen College School, studied classics at New College, Oxford (M.A.). In 1902 joined Malayan Civil Service, served first in Perak. From 1913…
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…
WILSON, Charles Robert. Old Charlton, Kent 27.3.1863 — Clapham, London 24.7.1904. British Civil Servant (Teacher) in India, Historian of the Colonial Period. Son of Charles Wilson, an army tutor, and Charlotte Woodthorpe Childs (1817–1905). “Educated at City of London School and Wadham College, Oxford [B.A. 1887]; entered the Bengal Education…
WILKS, Mark. Isle of Man 1759 — Kelloe House, Berwickshire 19.9.1831. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Rev. James Wilks (1719–1777) and Elizabeth Christian, a family of Manx gentry. Joined the E.I.C.’s army and went to Madras in 1782. Learned soon Persian. In 1786 Deputy Secretary to the Military…
WILKEN, Friedrich. Ratzeburg, Holstein 23.5.1777 — Berlin 24.12.1840. German Historian and Oriental Scholar. Professor in Heidelberg and Berlin. Of modest origin, son of Christian Erich Wilken, a valet, and his wife Sophie. After Domschule of Ratzeburg from 1795 studies of theology and history at Göttingen, also Oriental languages under J.…
WILHELM, Erdmann Eugen. Neustadt an der Orla, Thüringen 5.6.1842 — 1923. German Iranian Scholar. Professor in Jena. Son of a Superintendent, educated in Weimar. Studies at Jena and Halle. Ph.D. 1864. In 1864 tutor in Holstein, from 1865 Oberlehrer at Eisenach Gymnasium. From 1876 Professor and acting Director at Jena Gymnasium. From…
WHITEHEAD, Richard Bertram. Liverpool 6.11.1879 — Cambridge 4.3. 1967. British Civil Servant and Numismatist. Son of Rev. Robert Whitehead and Isabella Grimshaw. Educated at Liverpool College, studies at Exeter College, Oxford. In 1902 he joined I.C.S. and in 1903 arrived in the Punjab. From 1904 Assistant Commissioner, first in Ambala,…
WHEELER, Mortimer (Robert Eric Mortimer; “Ric”). Glasgow 10.9.1890 — Surrey 22.7.1976. Sir. British archæologist. Son of English journalist Robert Wheeler and Emily Baynes. Grew up in Edinburgh and near Bradford in Yorkshire (1899-1905 Bradford Grammar Shool). Studies from 1907 at London University College (graduated B.A. and 1912 M.A.), in 1914…
WHEELER, James Talboys. Oxford 22.12.1824 — Ramsgate, Kent 13.1.1897. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Son of James Luft Wheeler, a bookseller, and Anna Ophelia Talboys, privately educated. “Began as a publisher and book-seller. [During Crimean War] War Office extra clerk. Went to Madras to edit the Madras Spectator,…
WHEELER, Benjamin Ide. Randolph, Mass. 15.7.1854 — Vienna, Austria 3.5.1927. U.S. Classical and IE Scholar. The only son of Rev. Benjamin Wheeler (1807–1876), a Baptist priest, and Mary Eliza Ide (1822–1884). Educated at Franklin Academy, NH. Studies at Brown University 1871-75 (A.B. 1875, A.M. 1878), instructor at the same 1879-81.…