John Zephaniah Holwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Zephaniah Holwell
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| Born | 17 September 1711 |
| Died | 5 November 1798 |
| Occupation | Surgeon |
John Zephaniah Holwell (born September 17, 1711 – died November 5, 1798) was a British surgeon. He worked for the British East India Company. He even served as a temporary Governor of Bengal in 1760.
Holwell was also one of the first Europeans to deeply study ancient Indian culture. He was an early supporter of animal rights and believed in vegetarianism.
Contents
Holwell's Life and Work
John Zephaniah Holwell was born in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up in London, England. He studied medicine at Guy's Hospital, a famous hospital.
In 1732, he started working as a surgeon for the British East India Company. This company traded goods between Britain and India. He was sent to India and worked there until 1749.
The Black Hole of Calcutta
In June 1756, Holwell survived a terrible event known as the Black Hole of Calcutta. During this incident, British prisoners and others were held in a small, crowded room overnight. Many people died because there was not enough air.
Holwell wrote about what happened in 1757. His story became very famous in England. Some people believe his account helped gain support for the East India Company to take more control in India.
For a long time, no one questioned his story. However, in recent years, some historians have started to look at his version of events more closely. They have raised questions about how accurate it was.
Medical Discoveries in India
Holwell also wrote about how people in 18th-century Bengal, India, protected themselves from smallpox. This was a very dangerous disease. He described a method called "variolation."
This method involved taking a small amount of material from a person with a mild case of smallpox. This material was then put into a healthy person's skin. This helped the healthy person become immune to the disease. His book on this topic was important for medical historians.
Career in Administration
In 1751, Holwell was made a "zemindar." This meant he was in charge of collecting taxes in the Twenty-four Parganas District of Bengal. Later, he became a member of the Council of Fort William in Calcutta.
In 1756, he helped defend Fort William against an attack by Siraj Ud Daulah, a local ruler. In 1760, he became the temporary Governor of Bengal. He took over after Robert Clive, a famous British leader.
However, Holwell was removed from the Council in 1761. This happened because he disagreed with the appointment of Henry Vansittart as the new Governor of Bengal. In 1767, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group of scientists.
Holwell's Study of Hinduism
John Zephaniah Holwell was one of the first British travelers to study Hinduism. He believed that ancient Hindu texts could help explain secret meanings in the Bible. He wrote about these ideas in his books.
Beliefs About Souls and Rebirth
Holwell believed in "metempsychosis." This is the idea that souls can move from one body to another after death. He thought that God created angelic beings. However, these angels rebelled and were punished.
He believed they had to go through many rebirths to return to a state of grace. Holwell thought that all animals and humans were these "fallen angels." He even suggested that ancient Greeks and Egyptians learned about rebirth from Hindu Brahmins.
Holwell felt that all religions shared many common ideas. But he thought that Hindu scriptures explained these truths most completely. He wrote that the story of creation in the Bible made more sense when combined with the Hindu idea of fallen angels.
Views on Animals and Vegetarianism
Holwell was a vegetarian. He disagreed with the idea that animals were just machines without souls. He argued that humans should not control or use animals.
He believed that eating meat and killing animals went against human nature. He thought it caused both moral and physical problems in the world.
Christian Deism
Holwell believed that the idea of souls being reborn explained "Original sin." This is the idea that humans are born with a tendency to do wrong. He thought that the "Fall of Man" happened in heaven long before Adam and Eve were created. He saw Adam and Eve as fallen angels themselves.
Holwell considered himself a Christian deist. This meant he believed in God but thought that God created the world and then let it run on its own. This belief fit well with his ideas about souls being reborn and his interest in Hinduism.
See also
- Urs App (2010). The Birth of Orientalism; contains a chapter (pages 297–362) about Holwell.
