{"id":3705,"date":"2016-09-13T11:39:37","date_gmt":"2016-09-13T11:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/royalasiaticsociety.org\/?page_id=3705"},"modified":"2026-03-05T09:05:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T09:05:52","slug":"henry-thomas-colebrooke-1765-1837","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/royalasiaticsociety.org\/henry-thomas-colebrooke-1765-1837\/","title":{"rendered":"Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1605789733308{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”16137″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1617109260795{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1605789733308{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837)<\/h1>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”fluidcolumns”]Henry Thomas Colebrooke FRS FRSE<\/strong> (1765-1837) was a Sanskrit scholar and orientalist. He was born in London, the third son of Sir George Colebrooke, 2nd Baronet, Chairman of the East India Company, and Mary Gaynor of Antigua. He was educated at home and at fifteen was adept in classics and mathematics. In 1782 Colebrooke was appointed to a writership in India. He held administrative, legal and academic posts whilst in India during which time he learnt Sanskrit. He was thus able to translate \u201cDigest of Hindu Laws\u201d, unfinished by Sir William Jones. He translated the two treatises, the Mitacshara of Vijnaneshwara and the Dayabhaga of Jimutavahana\u00a0\u00a0under the title\u00a0Law of Inheritance<\/i>. During his residence at Calcutta he wrote his\u00a0Sanskrit Grammar<\/i>\u00a0(1805), some papers on the religious ceremonies of the Hindus, and his\u00a0Essay on the Vedas<\/i>\u00a0(1805).<\/p>\n

Colebrooke returned to England in 1814 where he played an active role in promoting knowledge. He was co-founder of the Royal Astronomical Society. More significantly for the Royal Asiatic Society, he instigated its foundation, with the initial planning meetings taking place at his home. He presided as Director of the Society until his death in 1837.<\/p>\n

The Collections\u00a0of the Royal Asiatic Society contain correspondence and papers concerned with the founding of the Society and his tenure as the first Director; a number of books donated by Colebrooke; and some drawings of Indian agricultural implements, fishing nets, drinking vessels and containers,\u00a0and musical\u00a0instruments, also donated by him. We also hold some of Colebrooke’s Personal Papers. Among these is\u00a0an Autograph book compiled by an unknown individual, \u00a0but belonging to Frederick Hendricks in 1893.<\/p>\n

This is a re<\/del>d calf-bound book, containing printed and handwritten material including biographical material concerning Colebrooke, obituary notices for Horace Hayman Wilson, and correspondence from Colebrooke to Nathaniel Wallich. Wallich was Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, and the correspondence concerns the sending of seeds, plants and geological specimens to both England and South Africa, and the sending of books and journals to India. These letters highlight some of Colebrooke\u2019s research concerns at this time.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”16137″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center” onclick=”link_image”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”fluidcolumns”]The Personal Papers also contain\u00a0photocopies of correspondence between Colebrooke and his niece, Belinda Sutherland Colebrooke.\u00a0She\u00a0was born on 11th July 1800, the elder daughter of George Colebrooke, Henry\u2019s brother. After\u00a0his death, her mother became involved in a series of relationships. Belinda and her sister, Harriet, were eventually made wards-of-court and placed with a foster mother. On 28th October 1823 she married Charles Joshua Smith, 2nd Baronet.\u00a0She died on 22nd January 1825.\u00a0These letters provide a fascinating insight into the relationship between Henry and Belinda and in so doing provide information on foster care, politics, culture and life in early 19th century Britain.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n