The election in 1860 for the position of Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford was a hotly contested affair between two candidates with different approaches to Sanskrit scholarship. Monier Williams (pictured), an Oxford-educated Englishman who taught Sanskrit to those preparing to work in British India, regarded the study of Sanskrit as a way to help convert India to Christianity. Max Müller, an internationally regarded scholar in comparative philology (the science of language), thought that his work, while it would assist missionaries, was valuable as an end in itself. They battled for the votes of the electorate (the Convocation of the university, consisting of over 3,700 graduates) through manifestos and newspaper correspondence. The election came at a time of public debate about Britain's role in India after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Although generally regarded as the superior scholar, Müller had the double disadvantage (in some eyes) of being German and having liberal Christian views. Special trains to Oxford were provided for non-residents to cast their votes. Williams won the election by a majority of over 230 votes, and held the chair until his death in 1899. Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boden_Professor_of_Sanskrit_election,_1860> _______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries: 1782: The Bronze Horseman (pictured), an equestrian statue of Peter the Great that serves as one of the symbols of Saint Petersburg, Russia, was unveiled. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Horseman> 1909: Fifty-nine days after leaving New York City, Alice Huyler Ramsey, with three friends, arrived in San Francisco to become the first woman to drive an automobile across the U.S. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Huyler_Ramsey> 1933: An estimated 3,000 Assyrians were slaughtered by Iraqi troops during the Simele massacre in the Dahuk and Mosul districts. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simele_massacre> 1938: Prisoners from Dachau concentration camp were sent to begin construction of Mauthausen, which would later be part of one of the largest labour camp complexes in German-occupied Europe. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauthausen-Gusen_concentration_camp> 1998: Car bombs exploded simultaneously at the American embassies in the East African capital cities of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya, killing more than 200 people and injuring more than 4,500 others. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_United_States_embassy_bombings> _____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day: dressage: An equestrian sport in which the horse and rider perform a test of specific movements in an arena, and are judged on the horse's obedience, acceptance of the bridle and of the rider's aids, gaits, impulsion, and the harmony between horse and rider. <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dressage> ___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:   There's not a single thing on offer in this all-too-temporary world for which you should ever sell your soul.   --Alan Keyes <https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Keyes>