William Ouseley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir William Ouseley
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by H.R.Cook after Samuel Drummond
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| Born | 1767 Monmouthshire
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| Died | September 1842 |
| Occupation | Diplomatic Secretary, Artist and Linguist |
| Spouse(s) | married (6 March 1796) Julia Frances Irving (daughter of Lt. Col. John Irving) |
| Children | many |
| Parent(s) | Captain Ralph Ouseley and Elizabeth née Holland |
Sir William Ouseley (1767-1842) was a British scholar who studied the languages and cultures of the East, especially Persia (modern-day Iran). He was known for his knowledge of Eastern languages and his important writings about them.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Ouseley was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1767. He was the oldest son of Captain Ralph Ouseley and Elizabeth Holland. William and his brother, Gore, along with their cousin, Gideon, were all taught at home. All three of them grew up to have very important careers.
In 1787, when he was 20 years old, William went to Paris, France. He went there to learn French. While in Paris, he became very interested in Persian literature, which includes stories and poems from Persia.
Joining the Army and Studying Languages
In 1788, William Ouseley joined the army. He became a cornet, which was a junior officer, in a cavalry group called the 8th regiment of dragoons. Cavalry soldiers ride horses.
After serving in the army for a few years, William decided to follow his passion for learning. In 1794, he left the army. He then traveled to Leiden, a city in the Netherlands, to focus on studying the Persian language.
Family Life and Travels
In 1796, William Ouseley married Julia Frances Irving. They had many children together. Their oldest son, Sir William Gore Ouseley, also became a famous diplomat and artist. He worked in South America.
By 1798, William Ouseley was living in Crickhowell, Wales. It was there that he later published his important travel books. These books shared his experiences and observations from his journeys.
Becoming a Knight
In 1800, William Ouseley was honored for his work. Charles Lord Cornwallis, a very important figure who had been in charge of India, arranged for William to be knighted. This meant he was given the title "Sir." He received this honor because of his great efforts in promoting and sharing knowledge about Eastern studies.
Important Books and Writings
Sir William Ouseley wrote and published many books about his studies. These books helped people in Europe learn more about Eastern cultures and languages.
Some of his well-known works include:
- Persian Miscellanies (1795)
- Oriental Collections (1797–1799)
- Epitome of the Ancient History of Persia (1799)
- The Oriental Geography of Ebn Haukal (1800), which was about the geography writings of Ibn Hawqal
- A translation of the Bakhtiyar-nama (1801), a collection of Persian stories
In 1797, he also received an important degree from Trinity College Dublin.
Journey to Persia
In 1810, Sir William Ouseley had a special opportunity. His younger brother, Sir Gore Ouseley, was sent to Persia (which is now called Iran) as an Ambassador. An Ambassador is a country's main representative in another country. Sir William went with his brother as his Secretary.
During his time in Persia, he gathered a lot of information and experiences. In 1812, he sailed back to England on a ship called HMS Salsette.
After his return, from 1819 to 1823, he published a three-volume set of books called Travels in Various Countries of Middle East. These books described his journeys in the Middle East, especially in Persia, during the years 1810 and 1811. He also helped publish other travel books, including those by John Lewis Burckhardt about Arabia.
Sir William Ouseley passed away in September 1842 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
