MÜLLER, Gerhard Friedrich (Fëdor Ivanovič Miller). Herford, Westfalen 29.10.1705 — Moscow 11/22.10.1783. German Historian, Ethnograph and Explorer of Siberia in Russia. Son of gymnasium director Thomas Müller and Anna Maria Bode. Gymnasium in Herford, studied at Rinteln and Leipzig (Greman Wikip., in Russianversion Rinteln and Halle), mainly philosophy and history. In…
GOUVEA, Antonio de. Beja, region Alentejo 1575 — Manzanares, Castille-La Manche 18.8.1628. Portuguese Augustinian Missionary and Diplomat. Ordained as priest 1591. From 1597 taught theology in Goa, from there visited Persia in 1602-03 on diplomatic mission, again 1608-09 establishing Augustinian mission in Isfahan, from there proceeded to Spain. In 1611-28…
CAMPBELL, Donald. Argyll 1751 — Hurron, Essex 5.6.1804. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer. Son of an E.I.C. officer, politically a Hanoverian family. A cavalry officer, travelled to India via Venice, Aleppo, Baghdad, Bushire, and Bombay. On way to Madras he was shipwrecked and captured ny soldiers of Hyder Ali, but released…
BRUIN, Cornelis de (Bruyn, C. De Bruijn). the Hague 1652 — Utrecht 1727. Dutch Painter and Traveller. Son of Jan de Bruin. In 1672-1693 he went through Italy to Turkey, then to Syria and Egypt, coming back through Venice. The second trip began in 1701 when he first went via Archangelsk…
BONVALOT, Pierre Gabriel Édouard. Épagne (Aube) 13.7.1853 — Auteuil, Paris 10.12.1933. French Central Asian Explorer. Son of Pierre Bonvalot and Louise-Félicie Congniasse des Jardins, school in Troyes. In 1880-82 and 1886-87 expeditions to Russian Central Asia. In 1889-90 with Prince Henri of Orléans through Russia to Chinese Central Asia, then through…
SYKES, Percy Molesworth. Brompton, Kent 28.2.1867 — London 11.6.1945. Sir. British Colonial Officer and Diplomat. Brigadier-General. Son of army chaplain Rev. William Sykes (1829–1900) and Mary Molesworth, educated at Rugby, military education at Sandhurst. From 1888 served in 2nd Dragoon Guards in India, 1895 Lieutenant, 1897 Captain. In 1892 secret…
SPRINGER (Sprenger), Balthasar. Vils, Ausserfern, Tyrol 14?? — 1509/11. Austrian Traveller in service of Welser trading house of Augsburg. Probably son of Johannes (Hans) Springer who was in service of the local prince, and Anastasia Steidlin (?). Very little is known of Balthasar’s own life. In Welser service he went…
MASTER, Streynsham. Langdon, Kent 28.10.1640 — Lancashire 28.4.1724. Sir. British Colonial Administrator of E.I.C. in India. Son of Richard Master (1604?–1669) and Anne Oxenden. Served long in Surat, then in Masulipatam and Bengal and in 1678-81 as Company’s Agent in Madras. Returned in 1692 and bought Codnor Castle estate in…
MAJOR, Richard Henry. Jersey (Wikipedia: Shoreditch, London) 3.10.1818 — Kensington. London 25.6.1891. British Geographer. Son of the elder R. H. Major, a physician, and his wife Elizabeth. The father died when he was three and he was brought up by his paternal grandfather. School in London (Merchant Taylors’ School), then…
LUARD, Charles Eckford. Farnham, Surrey 11.11.1869 (or 11.10.) — Oxford 17.5.1927. British Colonial Officer in India. Lieutenant-Colonel. Son of Colonel Charles Henry Luard (1837–1905) and Amelia Juliana Martin. Educated in Marlborough, studies at Oxford (Christchurch), M.A. Cadet 1891, in 1892-98 served in Indian army, then in Indian Political Service until 1925.…