Wilkins, Charles, approximately 1749-1836
English typographer, translator, and lexicographer, who was a printer and writer (and later librarian) for the East India Company, through which he gained proficiency in Persian and Bengali. He learned typesetting and designed type for books in both languages. He then learned Sanskrit in India and worked on the Mahabharata, becoming the first to translate the Bhagavad Gita into English (1785). His other notable contribution was the publication of a new edition of John Richardson's Persian and Arabic dictionary. He was a founding member of The Asiatic Society in 1784 and elected a member of the Royal Society in 1788. In 1833, king George IV bestowed upon him the badge of the Royal Guelphic Order as well as knighted him for his scholarship.
- HMML ID
- 908170790291
- PURL
- LC name
- Wilkins, Charles, approximately 1749-1836
- HMML name
- Wilkins, Charles, approximately 1749-1836
- Library of Congress
- VIAF
Variants
- Wilkins, Charles, Sir
Name elements
- Given names
- Charles
- Family names
- Wilkins
Personal information
- Birth date
- 1749~
- Death date
- 1836
- Centuries
- 18th century CE ● 19th century CE
- Gender
- Males
- Associated countries
- Associated places
- Occupations
- Fields of activity
- Languages
Affiliations
- Affiliation
Preferred citation
"Wilkins, Charles, approximately 1749-1836." HMML Authority File. Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Last modified June 09, 2023. https://w3id.org/haf/person/908170790291
Change notes
- Date added
- 2023-06-09
- Last edited
- 2023-06-09