RIBEIRO, João. Baptized Lisbon 17.5.1622 — ?.11.1693. Portuguese Officer in South Asia. Son of a cap-maker. Left for India as private soldier in 1640 and was sent from Goa to Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Participated in the war between Portugal and the Netherlands, wounded several times. In 1658 caught by the…
RHYS DAVIDS, Thomas William. Colchester, Essex 12.5.1843 — Chipstead, Surrey 27.12.1922. British Indologist, Pāli and Buddhist Scholar. Professor in Manchester, Founder and President of the Pāli Text Society. Married with —> C. A. F. Rhys Davids (1858–1942). Son of Rev. Thomas William Davids (1816–1881), a minister and ecclesiastic historian of…
RENNEL, James. Chudleigh, Devonshire 3.12.1742 — London 29.3.1830. British Colonial Officer and Geographer in India. Son of Captain John Rennel (of artillery), who died in action in 1747, and Anne Clarke. After mother’s new marriage brought up by Rev. Gilbert Burrington. Educated at Chudleigh (and as a schoolboy draw a…
REINAUD, Joseph-Toussaint. Lambesc (Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence) 4.12.1795 — Paris 14.5.1867. Abbé. French Oriental (Arabic and Persian) Scholar and Historian. Professor in Paris. After seminary in Aix-en-Provence studied theology from 1814 in Paris, where he soon became student of Silvestre de Sacy. As secretary of diplomat de Portalis he continued his studies…
REHATSEK, Edward (Ede). Illack (now Ilok in Croatia) 3.7.1819 — Bombay (Mumbai) 11.12.1891. Hungarian Oriental Scholar in India. Son of the forest inspector of princess Odescalchi, educated in Budapest and graduated as civil engineer from Budapest University. Leaving Hungary after his parents’ death in 1842 he spent four months in Paris…
REES, John David. London 16.12.1854 — London 2.6.1922. First Baronet (1919). British Civil Servant in India. Son of Lodwich William Rees (1816–1885) and Ann Jones. “Educated at Cheltenham. Entered the Madras Civil Service, 1875. Private Secretary to three successive Governors…; Government Translator in Tamil, Telugu, Persian and Hindustani. British Resident…
RAWLINSON, Hugh George. Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire (Wikidata: Brighton) 12.5.1880 — Seaview, Isle of Wight 8.6.1957. British Civil Servant and Historian in India. Son of Rev. George Rawlinson and Evelyne Maud Hearn. After classical studies at Cambridge, Emmanuel College (M.A.), he joined Ceylon Educational Service in 1903. Moving to India in…
RAWLINSON, Henry Creswicke (Sir Henry). Chadlington Park, Oxfordshire 11.4.1810 — London 5.3.1895. Bart. British Pioneer of Near Eastern Archaeology. Son of Abram Tyson Rawlinson (1777–1845), a breeder of racehorses, and Eliza Creswicke, brother of —> George Rawlinson (1812–1902). Educated at Wrington and Ealing schools, became early interested in ancient history.…
RAWLINSON, George. Chadlington, Oxfordshire 23.11.1812 — Canterbury 6.10.1902. Rev. Canon. British Classical Scholar and Historian. Son of Abraham Tyson Rawlinson (1777–1845), a breeder of racehorses, and Eliza Creswicke, younger brother of —> H. C. Rawlinson (1810–1895). Educated at Swansea grammar school and Ealing school, from 1834 studied at Trinity College,…
RAPSON, Edward James. Leicester 12.5.1861 — Cambridge 3.10.1937. British Indologist. Professor in Cambridge. Son of the teacher and future vicar Edward Rapson, educated at Hereford Cathedral School. From 1879 studied at St.John’s College, Cambridge. Graduated in classics in 1883 and started now Indology under Cowell. Fellow of St.John’s 1887-93, in…