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 Dictionary of Indian Biography (Buckland) |
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 Dictionary of Indian Biography J to L
| Date transcribed | 2011-05-01 | | Transcribed by | Peter Bailey | | Comment | Note that notables of Indian, Afghan, etc. origin do not always follow the alphabetical name pattern established by Buckland in his original work. |
| | Surname | Jones | | | First Name(s) | William | | | Titles | Sir | | | Year of Birth | 1746 | | | Year of Death | 1794 | | | Entry | Youngest son of William Jones the mathematician : born Sep. 28, 1746 : educated at Harrow, for more than ten years : Scholar of University College, Oxford, 1764 : there began his studies in Oriental and other languages : became tutor to young Lord Althorp : Fellow of his College, 1766 : M.A. in 1773 : translated a life of Nadir Shah from Persian into French, 1770 : wrote a Persian grammar, 1771 : translations of Poems and six books of commentaries on Asiatic Poetry : F.R.S. in 1772, and Member of the Literary Club, 1773 : called to the bar from the Middle Temple in 1774 : was a Commissioner of bankrupts, 1776 : published an Essay on the Law of Bailments, 1881 (sic) : unsuccessful candidate for the Arabic Professorship at Oxford : published a translation of the Arabic Moallakat : appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court at Calcutta, 1783 : knighted
: founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 and was its President till his death : contributed 29 papers to the first four volumes of the Asiatic Researches, translated the ordinances of the Hind : lawgiver, Manu : the Sakuntala of Kalidasu the Gitagobinda of Jagadeva, the Hitopadesa
of Pilpai, and some works on Muhammadan law : he was the first English scholar to know Sanskrit : he studied every department of Oriental learning and literature, and advanced them all : he aimed at making Eastern learning known to the West. He was intimate with Warren Hastings and his successors, and had their support. His judicial work was also well performed : he commenced a digest of Hindu and Muhammadan law : but is best known by the results of his literary labours. He overtaxed his strength, and died, April 27, 1794. A monument was erected to him in St. Paul's Cathedral. His scholarship was of world-wide renown, and his memory is dearly cherished by all Oriental scholars."" |
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A List of eminent persons who served in British India, together with short biographical notes of each
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