NIEUHOFF, Johan. Uelsen, Grafschaft Bentheim (Germany) 22.7.1618 — Madagascar 8.10.1672. Dutch Traveller in India in the middle of the 17th century. Son of the mayor of Uelsen, Jan van Nijhoff, of Zwolle, and Egberta Picardt. In 1640-49 in Brazil during the Dutch attempt to establish a colony there, then in…
NIEBUHR, Carsten. Lüdingworth near Cuxhaven 17.3.1733 — Meldorf, Holstein 26.4.1815. German Traveller, Geographer and Engineer in Danish Service. Son of Barthold Niebuhr (1704–1749), a free farmer, and Caecilie von Duhn (1706–1733). Father’s death interrupted school, but he studied privately mathematics, surveying, and Arabic, then as student at Göttingen. Selected by…
MUNDY, Peter. Before 1609 (1597?) — after 1667. British Trader and Traveller. From Penryn in Cornwall, son of a pilchard trader. In 1609-10 in Rouen and Gascony in France. In 1611 he became a cabin-boy in a merchantman, gradually arose to higher positions. Visited Constantinople (1617), returned overland via Bulgaria,…
MORELAND, William Harrison. Belfast 13.7.1868 — Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire 28.9.1938. British (Anglo-Irish) Historian of Islamic India. Born in Northern Ireland, son of the elder W. H. Moreland and Emily McGowan. Educated 1881-86 at Clifton College, Somerset. In 1886 accepted to I.C.S., studied law and other subjects at Cambridge (LL.B. 1889…
MOORCROFT, William. Ormskirk, Lancashire 1767 — Andkhui, Afghanistan 25.8.1825. British Veterinary Surgeon and Traveller in North-West India and Afghanistan. Born as illegitimate son of Ann Moorcroft, the daughter of a local farmer, educated in “Liverpool as a surgeon, studied veterinary science in France [Lyon]. Made a fortune by his veterinary…
MILDENHALL (Midnall), John. Little Bedwell, Wiltshire 1560 (?) — Ajmer June 1614. British Traveller in India, self-styled envoy of the E.I.C. to Mughal Court in 1603. Son of Sir John Mildenhall (?). Being a London merchant, he travelled on his own account, without any official position, although he often pretended…
MARTIN, François. Paris 1634 — Pondichéry 31.12.1706. French Traveller in India the “Father of Pomdicherry”. Illegitimate son of a wealthy spice merchant, after his death had to work as shop assistant. In 1663 joined the French E.I.C., served first in Madagascar, from 1668 in India, soon in charge of the…
MARSHALL, John. 1642 — 1677. British Traveller in India. Studies at Cambridge (M.A. Christ’s College). Employed by E.I.C. in India from 1668, apparently died there. Served in Bengal and under Job Charnock in Patna. Made a great number of notes on Indian customs, religion, etc., which were published only in…
MARSDEN, William. Verval, county Wicklow, Ireland 16.11.1754 — Aldenham, Herefordshire 6.10.1836. British Pioneer of South-East Asian Studies and Numismatician. Son of John Marsden (d. 1801), an English merchant in Dublin, and Eleanor Bagnall (Bagenal). Educated at Dublin schools, studied at Trinity College, Dublin. “Went out as a writer in the…
MARKHAM, Clements Robert. Stillingfleet, Yorkshire 20.7.1830 — London 30.1.1916. Sir. British Traveller and Geographer. Son of Rev. David Frederick Markham (1800–1853) and Catherine Milner. “Educated at Cheam and Westminster, entered the Navy in 1844. Served in the Arctic expedition, 1850-1, retired from the Navy, 1852. Travelled in Peru, 1852-5, introduced…