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 in London and studied medicine at St.Thomas’ Hospital, but also learned the elements of minting. In 1808 left forBengal as Assistant-Surgeon, during the six months’…
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…
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 Numismatist. Son of Rev. Robert Whitehead and Isabella Grimshaw. Educated at Liverpool College and Exeter College, Oxford. In 1902 he joined I.C.S. and in 1903 arrived in the Punjab. From 1904 Assistant Commissioner, first in Ambala, then in different parts…
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. Son of Rev. Benjamin Wheeler (1807–1876), a Baptist priest, and Mary Eliza Ide. Studies at Brown University 1871-75 (A.B. 1875, A.M. 1878), instructor at the same 1879-81. In 1881-85 further studies in Germany: Leipzig, Heidelberg,…
WESTMACOTT, Edward Vesey. Chastleton, Oxfordshire 1839 (or 1840?) — 1911. BritishCivil Servant in India. Son of Rev. Horatio W. (1806–1862) and Penelope Spencer Ruscombe. B.A. Oxford. Served in Bengal. Married 1874 Annie Mary Charlotte Richards (1850–1936), divorce 1898, three sons. Publications: Letter on the Identification of ancient towns in Bengal, ProcASB…
WESTERGAARD, Niels Ludvig. Copenhagen 27.10.1815 — Copenhagen 9.9.1878. Danish Indologist and Iranian Scholar. Professor in Copenhagen. Son of a master carpenter, Niels Nielsen W. (1772–1835) and Sophie Magdalene Nyeborg. As a schoolboy he became interested, from the example of Rask, in comparative linguistics and Oriental languages. From 1833 studied at…
WELLSTED, Thomas Arthur. London 3.4.1904 — Cheltenham, Gloucestershire ?.10.1989 (or 1990?). British Mining Engineer in India. Son of Thomas Wilhelm Wellsted (1865–1919) and Lucy Kayser. B.Sc. 1926 London, in mining. Manager of mine in Central India (Madhya Pradesh). In 1933 surveyed the remains of Ramtek. In 1938 living in Balaghat.…
WADDELL, Lawrence Austine. Cumbernauld, Dumbartonshire 29.5.1854 — 20.9.1938. British (Scottish) Physician and Tibetan Scholar in India. Son of Rev. Thomas Clement Waddell (1813–1880), a teacher and author, and Jean Chapman. Studied medicine and chemistry at Glasgow University, graduated in 1878 and worked two years as surgeon in Gasgow. In 1880…