author
1833–1901
A civil servant turned scholar, he helped bring Arabic, Persian, and Indian classics to English readers in the late 19th century. His work ranged from literary history to translation and editing, with a lasting interest in making Eastern texts more widely available.
Born in Belgaum in the Bombay Presidency on May 21, 1833, he was educated privately in Anhalt and Genoa before going to Haileybury and joining the Bombay Civil Service in 1853. He spent much of his early career in India and eventually served as Collector of Bombay City and Island before retiring in 1878.
After returning to Britain, he became known as an Orientalist, translator, and editor with a deep interest in Arabic, Persian, and Indian literature. He worked closely with Sir Richard Burton, helped oversee the publication of Edward Rehatsek’s translation of The Rauzat-us-Safa, and is often credited with helping important Eastern works reach English readers.
He also wrote books of his own, including Early Ideas, Persian Portraits, Arabic Authors, and The Mysteries of Chronology. Arbuthnot died in London on May 25, 1901. No suitable verified portrait image was confidently available from the pages reviewed, so no profile image is included.