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]
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]