Edward Wheler Bird

Edward Wheler Bird (16 April 1823[1] – 21 May 1903) was a British civil servant in the Indian Civil Service.

He was born in Trichinopoly, British India,[2] in 1823, the son of John Bird, a provincial judge,[3] and Mary.[4] He returned to London for schooling and is listed in London's University College School's alumni as having attended from '32-38 and being "a great Tamil scholar."[5] He went back to India for a career in the Madras Civil Service and is listed as having been "special assistant to collector and magistrate, Masulipatam."[6][non-primary source needed]

In 1868, he retired from civil service and moved to Bristol, where he became involved in various missionary organizations, including the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews and the Bible Society.[3]

Bird became active in the British Israelite Movement in 1874, after having read a book by John Wilson.[3] He helped found the Anglo-Israel Association, which merged with the Anglo-Ephraim Association in 1878. Bird became president of the newly formed Metropolitan Anglo-Israel Association.[7]: 209  He oversaw an excavation of the Hill of Tara that caused irreparable damage in the early years of the 20th century.[citation needed]

He died at his home, Woodcote Villa, in Tyndalls Park, Bristol.[8]

  1. ^ "Births". Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British India and Its Dependencies. 16. Black, Parbury, & Allen: 607. 1823. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ 1901 England Census
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Katz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ India, Select Births and Baptisms, 1786–1947
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference School was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Register was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kidd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Deaths". Clifton Society. 28 May 1903. p. 15. Retrieved 1 June 2023.