Robert Chalmers, 1st Baron Chalmers
T. L. Heath | |
---|---|
Succeeded by | Warren Fisher |
Personal details | |
Born | Stoke Newington, Middlesex | 18 August 1858
Died | 17 November 1938 | (aged 80)
Spouse(s) | Maud Piggott Iris Florence |
Children | 3 |
Robert Chalmers, 1st Baron Chalmers,
Background and education
Chalmers was born in Stoke Newington, Middlesex, the son of John Chalmers and his wife Julia (née Mackay). He was educated at the City of London School and Oriel College, Oxford with a BA in 1881. He eventually went on to become the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.
Career
Civil Servant and Governor of Ceylon
He joined the
Chalmers is frequently accused of having been anti-Buddhist. These accusations are unfounded, for before being appointed Governor of Ceylon in 1913, he was a prominent member of the Pali Text Society. As such, he had already translated many Buddhist texts into English, from Pali, a language he masters perfectly. Also, when he arrived in Ceylon, his fame as a scholar was greatly appreciated by dignitaries of Buddhism. One of the first official ceremonies he presided over was the presentation of the Vidyodaya Pirivena Awards, named after a famous Buddhist university in Colombo. He delivered his speech not in English, but in Pali, thus arousing the admiration of the scholars present.[3]
In 1915, a
After serving as governor of Ceylon, he was then briefly Under-Secretary to Lord Lieutenant Lord Wimborne in 1916. He was admitted to the Privy Council of Ireland in the same year. Chalmbers then returned to the Treasury and served as Joint Permanent Secretary to the Treasury from 1916 to 1919. In 1919 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Chalmers, of Northiam in the County of Sussex.[5]
Pali and Buddhist scholar
From the beginning of his schooling at the City of London School from 1870 to 1877, he was very interested in ancient languages, especially Greek, Latin. He was also interested in Sanskrit and philology. He completed his studies at Oriel College, Oxford, where he obtained the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1881.[6][3]
In 1882, when he began his career as a civil servant in
Thus he attended the
In 1897, he made a presentation dealing with the Pāli term
Under the direction of T.W Rhys Davids, he published between 1895 and 1902, the first English translation of the
From 1922 to 1925 he was president of the
In 1924, he was appointed professor at Peterhouse College of the University of Cambridge and taught there until 1931.[9]
At the same time he produced his ultimate work of scholarship: a translation of the
Assessment of his dual career
In almost forty years, he translated more than 2000 Buddhist texts. His erudition has made him a well-known and respected scholar. Unfortunately, his competence in this field was of no use to him in his other career, particularly in managing the riots of 1915, which ironically took place in one of the countries where the ancient texts he studied tirelessly for most of his life were written.[3]
Family
Lord Chalmers married, firstly, Maud Mary Piggott, daughter of John George Forde Piggott, in 1888. After her death in 1923 he married, secondly, Iris Florence, daughter of Sir John Biles and widow of Robert Latta, in 1935. His two sons from his first marriage,
Death
His health began to deteriorate in the summer of 1938. He died on 18 November of the same year, leaving no male heirs. As a result, he is both the 1st and the last Baron Chalmers.[10] He was buried in East Sheen Cemetery, London.[11]
Works
R. Chalmers has translated over 2000 Pali texts. It would be difficult to compile a complete list. Here are some of them, including two writings not related to Buddhism.
Articles
- "The Parables of Barlaam and Joasaph'". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 423–449 (27 pages). 1891.[12]
- "The Lineage of The Proud King". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS). 1892.
- "Majjhima Nikāya 84. The Madhura Sutta concerning Caste". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 341–366 (26 pages). 1894..[13]
- " Letter from Robert Chalmers". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 386–387 (2 pages). 1894..[14]
- "Majjhima Nikaya 123. " Acchariyabbhuta-suttam ", The Nativity of the Buddha". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 751–771 (21 pages). 1895..[15]
- "The Jains". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS). 1895.
- " The Tathāgata". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society et Cambridge University Press: 103–115 (13 pages). 1898.. (Note: this is the text referred to above, presented at the International Congress of Orientalists held in Paris in November 1897, published in January 1898).[16]
- "The King of Siam's Edition of the Pāli Tipiṭaka". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 1–10 (10 pages). 1898..[17]
Books
- Further dialogues of the Buddha, texts of the Majjhima-nikâya, London, H.S. Milford, Oxford University Press, Collection : Sacred books of the Buddhists n°5 and 6, 1926–1927. Reprinted by Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, 2 volumes, Collection Bibliotheca Indo-Buddhica n°44-45, 1988.[18]
- Buddha’s Teachings being the Sutta-nipāta or Discourse-Collection,
- The Jātaka or Stories of the Buddha's Former Births, co-authors: ISBN 0 86013 260 9.[20]
- A history of currency in the British colonies, London, 1893 . Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1893.[21]
- Thomas William Rhys Davids 1843-1922, London, From the proceedings of the British Academy. Published by H.S. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1923.
Honours
Chalmers was appointed a Companion (civil division) of the
References
- ^ Padma Edirisinghe (23 September 2007). "Epistemological reflections of the Buddha". The Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ News report, The Straits Times of Singapore, 19 June 1913
- ^ a b c d e Dr. R.P. Fernando (16 March 2014). "Remembering Sir Robert Chalmers, Governor of Ceylon and Pali scholar". The Sundays Times. Retrieved 7 July 2021..
- ^ Janaka Perera (6 October 2009). "Hundred days of terror under British ". Sri Lanka Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
- ^ "No. 31308". The London Gazette. 25 April 1919. p. 5197..
- ^ Heath & Matheson 1941, p. 2.
- ^ a b c Heath & Matheson 1941, p. 10.
- ^ "Acts of the Eleventh International Congress of Orientalists, Paris-1897. The Tathāgata by Robert Chalmers (excerpt), pp.149-150". 1899. Retrieved 5 July 2021. (another reference appears in the "Works" section).
- ^ Heath & Matheson 1941, p. 9.
- ^ Heath & Matheson 1941, p. 12-13.
- ISBN 9780752496900.
- Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (JRAS): 423–449 (27 pages). 1891. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- JSTOR 25197198. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- JSTOR 25197202. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- JSTOR 25207760. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- JSTOR 25207938. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- JSTOR 25207927. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ Further dialogues of the Buddha, texts of the Majjhima-nikâya, read online: [1]. Retrieved 7 July 2021..
- ^ Buddha’s Teachings being the Sutta-nipāta or Discourse-Collection, read online: [2]. Retrieved 10 August 2021..
- ^ The 547 Sutta of The Jātaka or Stories of the Buddha’s Former Births (6 volumes : 1895-1907) translated by R.Chalmers, E.B Cowell, H.T. Francis, R.A. Neil, W.H.D. Rouse: Jataka - volume I, vol. II, vol. III, vol. IV, vol. V, vol. VI.
- ^ A history of currency in the British colonies, read online: [3]. Retrieved 7 July 2021..
- ^ "New Year Honours". The Times. No. 36027. London. 1 January 1900. p. 9.
- ^ "No. 27154". The London Gazette. 16 January 1900. p. 285.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36079. London. 2 March 1900. p. 6.
- ^ "No. 28151". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 June 1908. p. 4642.
Bibliography
- OCLC 1048802695.
- Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London: Dean & Son. p. 189.