William Nassau Lees facts for kids
William Nassau Lees (born 1825, died 1889) was a British Army officer who served in India. He was also famous for being an "orientalist," which means he studied the languages, history, and cultures of Eastern countries, especially those in Asia.
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Life and Career
William Nassau Lees was born on February 26, 1825. He was the fourth son of Sir Harcourt Lees. He went to school at Nut Grove and later studied at Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1846, William joined the British Army in India as an officer. He started as an ensign in the 42nd Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry. Over the years, he moved up in rank. He became a lieutenant in 1853 and a captain in 1858. By 1885, he had reached the rank of major-general.
His Work in Education
Lees was very involved in education in India. For several years, he was the head of the Calcutta Madrasa. This was an important school where he also taught law, logic, literature, and mathematics.
He also worked as the secretary for Fort William College. This college was important for training British officials in India. William Lees was also a Persian translator for the government. He was an examiner for Arabic, Persian, and Urdu languages. He tested people who wanted to work for the government.
In 1857, Trinity College, Dublin, gave him an honorary degree. He also earned a Ph.D. from Berlin. In 1872, he became a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, a group that studies Asia.
Later Life
William Nassau Lees was interested in politics. He tried to become a member of parliament twice in Britain, but he was not successful. He passed away in London on March 9, 1889, when he was 64 years old.
His Writings and Studies
William Nassau Lees was a very busy writer and editor. He focused on many important books about Eastern cultures and history.
Key Books He Worked On
- Fatúh'sh-Shám: This book was about the Muslim conquest of Syria.
- Al-Kashshaaf: This was a commentary on the Koran (Qur'an), which is the holy book of Islam.
- Nafahatu l'Uns by Jámí: This book told stories about saints and Sufis. Sufism is a mystical branch of Islam.
- Vis u Rámin: This was a romance story based on an old Persian tale.
He also wrote books to help people understand Oriental languages. One of his books was called Instruction in Oriental Languages. He also wrote a guide for exams at Fort William College.
Other Important Contributions
Lees helped edit many other important Indian books. He worked with Indian writers on projects like:
- A'aris i Buzurgan: A book with notices about Muslim doctors.
- A History of the Caliphs.
- A Book of Anecdotes, Wonders, Pleasantries, Rarities, and Useful Extracts.
- The Alamgirmáneh.
He also wrote articles for important journals like the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. He helped supervise the printing of several other historical texts, making sure they were accurate.
William Nassau Lees was also a journalist. He wrote many articles about India. These articles covered topics like politics, the military, and the economy. His book Indian Mussulmans was a collection of letters and articles he had written for newspapers.
Images for kids
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A monument at Brompton Cemetery
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A close-up of the monument
