STRUTT, Edward. Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire 1853 — St.Columb, Newquay, Cornwall 1911. Rev. British Wesleyan Missionary in Sri Lanka. Son of master bootmaker G. Strutt and Elizabeth Housley, a pious Wesleyan family. Working in Ceylon at Jaffna (1876-78), Kalmunai (1878), Trincomalee (1879-81) and Colombo (1881-87) concentrating on Tamils. In 1887 returned…
STARK(E), John/James (?). Kirkcudbright 5.5.1798 — 1859. Hon. British (Scottish) Lawyer in Sri Lanka. From 1824 lawyer in Edinburgh. Queen’s Advocate in Ceylon 1838-40, then Puisne Justice of Supreme Court in Colombo (still 1849). The first President of the Ceylon Branch of R.A.S. Married Miss Gibson, two sons. Publications: In JRAS-CB: “On…
SPITTEL, Richard Lionel. Tangalle, Sri Lanka 9.12.1881 — Colombo 3.9.1969. British Physician, Anthropologist and Author in Sri Lanka, a Pioneer of Vedda Research. Son of Dr. Frederick George Spittel, of Ceylon Health Service, and Zilla Jansz. After Colombo Royal College and Ceylon Medical College trained in 1906-09 as surgeon in…
SMITHER, James George. 1833 — Camberwell, London 1910. British (Irish) Architect in Sri Lanka. Worked as architect in London and in 1865-83 as the first Government Architect of Ceylon, then retired to England. In 1899 he finally retired from architectural practice. As architect his work included the National Museum of…
SIRR, Henry Charles. 1807 — London 23.11.1872. British (Irish) Lawyer and Diplomat. Son of Henry Charles Sirr (1764–1841), Town Major of Dublin, and Eliza D’Arcy (1767–1829). Graduated from Trinity College, Dublin. Called to bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London. British vice-consul at Hong Kong (1843), then queen’s advocate for the southern…
PERCIVAL (Perceval), Robert. 1765 — 1826. British Colonial Officer. Joined Irish Infantry in the U.K., as Captain in 1795-97 participated in the conquest of Dutch Capeland. In 1797 to Ceylon, where he remained three years. His both books are said to be full of description of the cruelty and treachery…
PALM, John David (Johann D. P.). Colberg, Pomerania (now Kołobrzeg in Poland) 1775 — Colombo 10.9.1842 (when 66). Rev. German Missionary in Sri Lanka. Began as a weaver, educated in Berlin. Ordained 1802, when 26. Arrived at Ceylon in 1805. Minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in Colombo and Jaffna. He…
OERTEL, Friedrich Oscar Emanuel (from 1921 Frederick O. Lechmere-Oertel). Hannover 9.12.1862 — New York 22.12.1942. German-born Engineer, Architect and Archaeologist in India. Went to India in 1883 giving up his German citizenship, naturalized as British. In 1883-87 assistant engineer on railway & building construction in North-Western Provinces and Oudh, 1887-88…
NICHOLSON, James. 18?? — 1???. Rev. Wesleyan Missionary in Sri Lanka. Worked in Galle at least from 1867, 1887 still there. Finally retired and married Ellen Osborn. Publications: A Pocket Dictionary of the English and Sinhalese Language. 646 p. 1864, 7th ed. rev. by J. de Silva. 425 p. Colombo 1921.…
NELL, Louis. Colombo 26.11.1830 — Chiswick, Middlesex 17.5.1922. British (of Burgher background) Lawyer in Sri Lanka. Son of George Nell and Maria Elizabeth Conderlag (1805–1844). Worked as lawyer and journalist. Crown counsel of Ceylon. Retired in 1893, travelled in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. Four times (?) married, 14 children. Wikitree…