CABRAL, Pedro Álvarez. Belmonte, Portugal 1467/68 — Santarém? 1520. Portuguese Sailor. Son of a nobleman, Fernão C., himself in high positions at the court of king Manuel. In 1500 he was given the command of the second Portuguese Indian expedition. Started from Lisbon 9.3.1500, was driven to Brazil, which was…
BURTON, Richard Francis. Barnham House, Hertfordshire 19.3.1821 — Trieste 20.10.1890 (Dingle & Garrett: born in Torquay, Devon, Penzer explains: born in Toquay, baptised in Elstree, Herts). Sir. British (partly of Irish origin) Oriental Scholar, Pioneer of Anthropology, Traveller and Diplomat. Son of colonel Joseph Netterville B. (1782–1857) and Martha Beckwith…
BURNES, Alexander. Montrose, Angus 16.5.1805 — Kabul 2.11.1841. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer (Lieutenant-Colonel) and Traveller in India, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Son of James B. (peovost and a cousin of the poet Robert Burns) and Elizabeth Glegg, brother of —> James B. After attending the famous college of his…
BUCHANAN-HAMILTON, Francis (until 1815 Francis Buchanan). Branziet, Callander, Pertshire 15.2.1762 — 15.6.1829. British (Scottish) Physician in India, Traveller, Naturalist, a Pioneer of Burmese Studies and of Indian Archaeology. Son of Thomas B., a physician, and Elizabeth Hamilton, took himself a M.D. at Edinburgh in 1783. After serving on a war…
BRIGGS, Henry George. Bombay 20.10.1824 — Bombay 4.7.1872. British Merchant, Traveller, and Orientalist. Son of Henry Briggs. In 1843 travelled in South Africa, in 1845 in China. In 1846 settled at the office of Briggs & Co. in Bombay. For a while lived in Karachi (1854/55), then from 1856 Assistant…
BOWRING, Lewin Bentham. Hackney, London 15.7.1824 — Torquay, Devon 14.1.1910. British Civil Servant in India. Son of Sir John B. (1792–1872), linguist, traveller, politician, diplomat, governor of Hong Kong, even poet, and Maria Lewin. Educated in Exeter, at Haileybury and Fort Williams (Calcutta). Bengal Civil service 1843-70. From 1847 Assistant…
BOWER, Hamilton St.Clair. Portsea Island, Hampshire 1.9.1858 — North Berwick, East Lothian 5.3.1940. Sir. British (Scottish) Colonial Officer and Traveller in Central Asia. Son of Admiral James Paterson B. and Barbara Hickson (from Ireland). Educated in Edinburgh and at Royal Naval School. Served in British India from 1884. As an…
BOGLE, George. Daldowie on Clyde near Glasgow 26.11.1746 — Calcutta 3.4.1781. British (Scottish) Traveller and Diplomat. Youngest son of George B., an important Glasgow merchant, and Ann Sinclair. Educated at Haddington, Glasgow, then at Edinburgh University. After four years in family business in 1769 joined E.I.C.’s service. Soon became private…
BERNIER, François. Joué-Etiau (Maine-et-Loire) 26.9.1620 — Dauphine (or Paris?) 22.9.1688. French Physician and Traveller in India. Spent twelve years (1656-68) in India, and was 8 years physician at the Mughal court. Son of Pierre B., one of the foremost tenants of the chapter of Angers, and Andrée Grimault. He lost…
BELL, Harry Charles Purvis. India 21.9.1851 — Kandy 6.9.1937. British Archaeologist of Sri Lanka. Son of general H. W. B. Bell, from 1864 educated at Cheltenham College. From 1873 in Ceylon Civil service, served in various positions, finally district judge in Kegalla. In 1890-1912 Archaeological Commissioner for Ceylon with headquarters…