William Marsden

William Marsden (16 November 1754-6 October 1836) was an English orientalist. Born to a Dublin merchant in Verval, County Wicklow, he was educated in Dublin. Upon obtaining a civil service appointment with the East India Company, he was sent to Benkulen, Sumatra, in 1771. He was promoted to the position of principal secretary to the government, and acquired a knowledge of the Malay language and country.

Related Topics:
16 November - 1754 - 6 October - 1836 - English - Dublin - Verval - County Wicklow - East India Company - Benkulen - Sumatra - 1771 - Malay language

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Upon returning to England in 1779, Marsden wrote his History of Sumatra (1783). In 1795, he was appointed second secretary to the admiralty, later rising to the position of first secretary. He retired in 1807, and five years later, in 1812, he published Grammar and Dictionary of the Malay Language. This was followed by a translation of the Travels of Marco Polo in 1818.

Related Topics:
England - 1779 - 1783 - 1795 - 1807 - 1812 - Marco Polo - 1818

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Marsden was a member of many learned societies, and treasurer and vice-president of the Royal Society. In 1834 he presented his collection of oriental coins to the British Museum and his library of books and Oriental manuscripts to Kings College, London. His other works are Catalogue of Dictionaries, Vocabularies, Grammars and Alphabets (1796, Numismata orientalia (London, 1823-1825), and several papers on Eastern topics in the Philosophical Transactions and the Archaelogia.

Related Topics:
Royal Society - 1834 - British Museum - Kings College - London - 1796

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