CASTRO, João de. Lisbon 27.2.1500 — Goa 6.6.1548. Portuguese Nobleman, fourth Viceroy of Portuguese India. Second son of Álvaro de Castro, the civil governor of Lisbon, and Leonor de Noronha. Originally he was destined for a church career and studied for this, but when 18 he went to Tangier and…
PIRES, Tomé. Lisbon or Leiria 1468? — China 1540? or little earlier. Portuguese Traveller. Son of an apothecary, followed his father on this profession. Came to India in 1511, as apothecary and not very young, obtained soon official position under Albuquerque and went to Malacca. From there he also visited…
PELSAERT, Francisco. 1595? — Batavia ?.9.1630. Dutch Factor in India and Indonesia. Born in a wealthy family of Antwerpen, Roman Catholic. In 1618 sailed to the East as Assistant, the lowest grade of the Dutch E.I.C.’s service. In 1620 promoted to junior factor (onderkoopman) and posted to India. Travelled overland…
OGILBY, John. Killemeare (Kirriemuir), Angus 17.11.1600 — London 4.9.1676. British (Scottish) Author, Translator and Cartographer. Of unknown parentage. Probably educated at Merchant Taylors’ Grammar School in London. An accident ended his early career as a dancer in 1619, later (1633-46) worked as tutor in Dublin where he also founded Ireland’s…
METHWOLD (Method), William. Baptised in South Pickenham near Swaffham, Norfolk 1590 — Kensington (London) 5.3.1653. British Merchant and Traveller in India. Son of Thomas M. and Susanna Hogan. Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a merchant, served four years in London and five in Middelburg, the Netherlands. In 1615 accepted as Persian…
HAMILTON, Alexander. 16?? — after 1733. British Sea Captain. First sailed in Europe, North Africa and West Indies. In 1688-1723 trading and travelling in the East, operating from Surat. In 1717 commander of E.I.C.’s Bombay Navy, suppressing pirates. Publications: A New Account of the East Indies. 1-2. 29+8+396+309+10 p. Edinburgh…
GRAY, Albert. Perth, Scotland 10.10.1850 — Chelsea 27.2.1928. Sir. British (Scottish) Lawyer interested in Sri Lanka and in Travel Literature. Son of George Gray and Sophia Margaret Jameson. Member of Ceylon Civil Service in 1871-74. Back in the U.K. studied law and was called to the bar in 1879. Counsel…
EFREMOV, Filipp Sergeevič. 1750 — after 1811. Russian Traveller. From Vjatka (now Kirov). He was Sergeant of Russian army, taken prisoner by a band of Cossacks and sold as slave in Bukhara in 1774. Having succefully escaped two years later he travelled through Kashgar and Ladakh to Kashmir and via…
DU JARRIC, Pierre. Toulouse 2.3.1566 — Saintes (Charente-Maritime) 1617. S.J. French Historian of Mission. Joined Jesuits in 1582. When his hope to become a missionary was not accepted he turned to writing mission history. Ordained priest he taught many years philosophy and moral theology in Bordeaux. Never travelled himself. Beside…
DALRYMPLE, Alexander. New Hailes near Edinburgh 24.7.1737 (or 1736) — London 19.6.1808. British (Scottish) Geographer and Hydrographer. Son of Sir James Dalrymple (1692–1751), bart., and Lady Christian Hamilton. School in Haddington, East Lothian. After father’s death in 1752 went to London and joined E.I.C., 1753 writer in Madras. During his…