RASK, Rasmus Kristian (bapt. Rasmus Christian Rasch). Brændekilde near Odense 22.11.1787 — Copenhagen 14.11.1832. Danish Linguist and Traveller, also interested in Sanskrit and Old Iranian. Professor in Copenhagen. Son of Niels Hansen Rasch (1749–1810), a smallholder and tailor, and Birthe Rasmusdatter (d. 1801). Educated at home and in Odense, became…
TURNOUR, George. Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 11.3.1799 — Naples 10.4.1843. British Civil Servant and Indologist in Sri Lanka. The eldest child of the elder G. Turnour, Earl of Winterton (1768–1813), who began as officer in India, but finally was civil servant in Ceylon, and a French mother, Emilie de Beaussett (d.…
TOLFREY, William. 1778 — Colombo 4.1.1817. British Colonial Officer in India and Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Son of a colonial official (in India), grew up in England, in 1794 to India.. He came to the island in 1805, after having served in army in India in 1794–1805, participating in…
THOMSON, Henry William Byerley (until 1846 Henry William Th.). ?.5.1822 — Colombo 6.1.1867. British Lawyer in Sri Lanka. Son of the well-known physician, Anthony Todd Thomson (1778–1849) and Katherine Byerley (1797–1862), an authoress, elder brother of —> J. C. Thomson (1834–1860). Studies at London University College and Cambridge (Jesus College,…
TENNENT, James Emerson (until 1832 James Emerson). Belfast 7.4.1804 — London 6.3.1869. Sir (Bart). British (of Northern Ireland) Lawyer, Administrator and Politician in Sri Lanka. Son of William Emerson (d. 1821), a tobacco merchant in Belfast, and Sarah Arbuthnot. Educated at Belfast Academy, studies at Trinity College, Dublin, no degree.…
QUEYROZ, Fernão de. Canavezes near Amarante 1617 — Goa 12.4.1688. S.J. Portuguese Priest and Historian in India. Joined S.J. in 1631 in Coimbra and arrived at Cochin in 1635. In 1635-41 studied philosophy, then theology in Goa. From 1647 taught theology at St. Paul’s College in Goa. Rector of college…
PEARSON, Joseph. Yorkshire 19.4.1881 — Tasmania 20.6.1971. British Zoologist and Marine Biologist also interested in History, Museum Director in Sri Lanka and Australia. Son of Daniel Pearson and Cecilia Parr. Educated at Liverpool College, then at university there. B.Sc. 1902, Liverpool, then postgraduate studies at Manchester. In 1910-33 Director of…
PARKER, Henry John. 1849 — 19??. British Engineer and Civil Servant in Sri Lanka. Arrived in 1873 and in 1873-1904 worked as Irrigation Officer at Public Works Department, serving in different parts of the island. Interest in ancient reservoirs led him to archaeology. At the same time he achieved an…
VIRCHOW, Rudolf. Schivelbein, Pomerania (now Świdwin in Poland) 13.10.1821 — Berlin 5.9.1902. German Anatomist, Pathologist and Anthropologist. Son of Carl Christian Siegfried Virchow (1785–1865), farmer and town treasurer, and Johanna Maria Hesse. Gymnasium in Köslin (Koszalin). Studies of medicine at Berlin, graduated 1843. Worked in Charité Hospital, but lost his…
UPHAM, Edward. Exeter 1776 — Bath 25.8.1834. British Bookdealer and Orientalist. Born in Exeter, where his father Charles Upham (1739–1807) was later (1796) the mayor. Himself worked as bookseller in Exeter, in 1807 became its sheriff and 1809 mayor. After earlyretirement lived in Dawlish (Devon) and Bath. Married 1801 Mary…