John Dowson

John Dowson (1820–1881) was a prominent British Indologist and Orientalist, known for his authoritative works on Hindu mythology, Indian history, and the Hindustani language. Born in Uxbridge, England, Dowson taught Eastern languages under his uncle, Edwin Norris, and later served as a tutor at Haileybury College. In 1855, he was appointed Professor of Hindustani at both University College London and the Staff College, Sandhurst, positions he held until 1877. His major contributions include editing the eight-volume "The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians" from the papers of Sir Henry Miers Elliot, a significant work on the Muhammadan period of Indian history. Dowson compiled "A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature," published in 1879, which remains a foundational reference for scholars of Hindu traditions. He also authored "Grammar of the Urdu or Hindustani Language" (1862) and contributed to the Encyclopædia Britannica and the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.