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James Prinsep
1799 Aug, 20

James Prinsep

James Prinsep, English orientalist and scholar (d. 1840)
James Prinsep FRS (20 August 1799 – 22 April 1840) was an English scholar, orientalist and antiquary. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India. He studied, documented and illustrated many aspects of numismatics, metallurgy, meteorology apart from pursuing his career in India as an assay master at the mint in Benares.

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Events on 1799

  • 9 Jan

    William Pitt the Younger

    British Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger introduces an income tax of two shillings to the pound to raise funds for Great Britain's war effort in the Napoleonic Wars.
  • 4 May

    Battle of Seringapatam

    Fourth Anglo-Mysore War: The Battle of Seringapatam: The siege of Seringapatam ends when the city is invaded and Tipu Sultan killed by the besieging British army, under the command of General George Harris.
  • 27 May

    Battle of Winterthur (1799)

    War of the Second Coalition: Austrian forces defeat the French at Winterthur, Switzerland.
  • 25 Jul

    Battle of Abukir (1799)

    At Abu Qir in Egypt, Napoleon I of France defeats 10,000 Ottomans under Mustafa Pasha.
  • 19 Sep

    Battle of Bergen (1799)

    French Revolutionary Wars: French-Dutch victory against the Russians and British in the Battle of Bergen.