Max Muller

Max Müller was a German-born scholar who lived and studied in Britain for most of his life. He was one of the founders of the western academic disciplines of Indian studies and religious studies. He was especially interested in Sanskrit philology and the religions of India. He edited and translated many ancient texts, such as the Rig Veda, the Upanishads, and the Dhammapada. He also wrote extensively on comparative language, religion, and mythology. He was a professor of modern European languages and then of comparative philology at Oxford University. He was also a Fellow of All Souls College. He was a friend of many eminent scholars, writers, and artists, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thomas Carlyle, Charles Darwin, William Makepeace Thackeray, and Richard Wagner. He was also involved in various social and educational causes, such as promoting female education in India, supporting the establishment of the Indian National Congress, and advocating for the preservation of endangered languages. He was honoured with many awards and titles, such as the Order of the Crown of Prussia, the Order of Merit of the Bavarian Crown, the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts, and the Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. He died at his home in Oxford on 28 October 1900 at the age of 76.