WILKINSON, Lancelot. Crosby-Ravensworth, Cumbria 22.6.1805 — Sehore near Bhopal 13.11.1841. British Scholar of Astronomy in India. Son of James W. and Nanny Eggleston. Came to India as a writer around 1822 and joined Bombay C.S. From 1824 Assistant to Collector of Southern Konkan, from 1826 Assistant Resident in Nagpore and…
WILKINS, Charles. Frome, Somerset bapt. 21.6.1749 (not 1750!) — London 13.5.1833. Sir. British Pioneer of Indology. In India 1770-86. Son of Hugh W. (Sengupta Walter W.)and Mary Wray, a modest family. Joining the E.I.C.’s service he came to India as a Writer in July 1770 and served in 1770-72 as…
WILFORD, Francis. 1761 (1771 makes him too young for his early career) — Benares 1822. British (of German Origin) Colonial Officer and Indologist in India. Born in the Kingdom of Hannover, obtained classical education. In 1781 joined the E.I.C.’s military service. Served many years as Lieutenant, in the end Colonel…
WHITNEY, William Dwight. Nothampton, Mass. 9.2.1827 (hardly 1828) — New Haven, Conn. 7/8.6.1894. U.S. Indologist. Professor in New Haven. Born in an old Yankee family as the son of a businessman, Josiah Dwight Whitney, and Sarah Williston. Educated in 1842-45 at Williams College (B.A. 1845). In 1845-49 he worked in…
WHEELER, Mortimer (Robert Eric Mortimer; “Ric”). Glasgow 10.9.1890 — Surrey 22.7.1976. Sir. British archæologist. Son of journalist Robert Wh. and Emily Baynes. Grew up in Edinburgh and near Bradford (where school). Studies at London University College, in 1914 begun his work as archæologist and married. In 1914-18 in army in…
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. 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 Copenhagen…
WENNERBERG, Claes. 1939 — ?.7.1996, when 57. Swedish Indologist. Son of Gunnar W. and Torborg “Bojan” Broden. Studies at Gothenburg under Liebert. Ph.D. 1981 Göteborg Universitet. Docent and half-time Universitetslektor teaching Indology and comparative linguistics at Gothenburg until his sudden and unexpected death. Married Doris, two sons. Publications: Diss. Die…
WEBER, Friedrich Albrecht. Breslau 17.2.1825 — Berlin 30.11.1901. German Indologist. Professor in Berlin. Son of Benedikt Weber, a Professor of Economics. Educated at monastery school in Rossleben, learned there Greek and Hebrew. In 1842-45 studied classical and Oriental philology at Breslau (under Stenzler), for a while at Bonn (1844, Lassen…
WÄLIKANGAS, Eino (until 1906 Buddén). Savonlinna 11.10.1889 — Helsinki 4.3.1960. Finnish Diplomat, former Student of Indology . Son of Emil Johannes Buddén, a teacher, and Johanna Augusta Granit. Matriculated 1907 from Savonlinna school. Studies at Helsinki. Wrote his M.A. thesis in German philology in 1914, but planned a dissertation in…
RUBEN, Walter. Hamburg 26.12.1899 — Berlin 7.11.1982. German (East) Indologist. Professor in Berlin. Son of Albert R., a merchant, and Emmi Geister. School in Hamburg, 1917-18 in army. Studies of classics, philosophy and Indology at Hamburg (Konow) and Bonn (Jacobi), also Berlin (Lüders). Ph.D. 1924 Bonn. PD 1927 Bonn, in…