MANNING, Thomas. Broome, Norfolk 8.11.1772 — Bath 2.5.1840 [Wikipedia near Dartfors 1840]. British Physician and Traveller in Asia, visited Lhasa. Buckland (with additions):“Son of the Rev. William M. ʼand Elizabeth Adams], educated at Caius College, Cambridge. Scholar, 1790-95, private tutor, studied mathematics, friend of Porson and Charles Lamb. Studied Chinese…
MANDELSLO, Johann Albrecht von (Johan Albert v. M.). Schönberg, Mecklenburg 15.5.1616 — Paris 16.5.1644. German Traveller in India. Son of Hermann Clamor v. M. Started 1636 his travels together with his friend Adam Olearius (1599–1671) in Holstenian embassy to Persia, on his own he proceeded in 1638 from Isfahan to…
LOPES, David Mello. Nesperal, Castelo Branco 17.4.1867 — Lisbon 3.2.1942. Portuguese Historian of India. “Son of José Amaro Lopes, educated at Lisbon (Curso Superior de Letras) and at É.L.O.V. in Paris. Appointed, in 1895, Professor of the French Language at the Lyceum Central, in 1901, Professor of French Language and…
LONGHENA, Mario. Parma 24.5.1876 — Bologna 25.2.1967. Italian Politician interested in India and Iran. Son of Paolo L., who as a Garibaldian had great economical difficulties. Studies at Bologna. Teacher (professor) in Agrigento, then at R. Ginnasio Marco Minghetti in Bologna. As socialist active in politics, he was forced to…
LINSCHOTEN, Jan Huyghen van. Haarlem 1563 — Enkhuizen 8.2.1611. Dutch Traveller. Born in a Roman Catholic family (son of a public notary), grew up in Utrecht, then was sent to Spain in 1679 in the age of 16 in order to learn commerce. After a few years in Valencia he…
LEWIS, James (pseudonym Charles Masson). Aldermanbury (Middlesex) 16.2.1800 — Edmonton, Middlesex 5.11.1853. British pioneer of Archæology in Afghanistan. Son of oil dealerGeorge Lewis and Mary Hopcraft, apparently had a good education. Served in E. I. Company’s army, from 1821 in Bengal Artillery, soon after participation in the siege of Bharatpur…
LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISSIÈRE, Guillaume-Joseph-Hyacinthe-Jean-Baptiste. Coutances (Manche) 12.9.1725 — Paris 22.10.1792. French Astronomer and Traveller, in India 1768–71. Instead of the planned career in church, but turned to astronomy. Left for India in 1760 in order to observe the transit of Venus in 1761, but missed the occasion because…
LEBEDEV, Gerasim Stepanovič (Herasim Lebedeff). Jaroslavl 1749 (not 1746) — 15.7.1817. Russian Musician, Traveller and Pioneer of Indology. Son of Stepan L. and his wife Paraskov’a. Father was a poor Orthodox clergyman, who did not allow him to obtain higher education. The family moved to St.Petersburg, where he studied music…
KNOX, Robert. London 8.2.1641 — Wimbledon, London 17.6.1720. British (Scottish) Traveller. In South Asia in 1657-94 (1659-79 prisoner in Ceylon). Son of Robert Knox, a Puritan and commander in E.I.C.’s service. Grew up in Wimbledon, Surrey. After mother’s death sailed with his father in January 1657 to Fort George. On…
KEPHALAS, Nikolaos (Nicola Chiefala; Νικόλαος Κεφαλᾶς). Zakynthos 1763 or 1770 — Constaninople 1847 or Thessaloniki 1850. Greek Traveller in India. Born in a noble, but poor family in Zakynthos, Ionian Islands, then Venetian domain. Captain, participated in the Greek revolution from its very beginning (but also said to have been…