Tien, Anton

Title

Revd, Prof

First name(s)

Anton

Surname

Tien

Position(s) held at King's College London ^Ref: *4

Professor of Turkish (1896-1913)

Education & professional details

School, college and/or university attended ^Ref: *3

Studied theology in Rome for several years and converted to Anglicanism. Came to England with letters of introduction to Gladstone who advised him to go to theological college. Entered St Augustine's College, Canterbury.

Qualifications

PhD

Position(s) held (non King's College London) ^Ref: *3

Oriental Secretary on Lord Baglan's staff during the Crimean War (1853-1856). 1860 travelled to Constantinople as an ordained priest. There his knowledge of languages, particularly Middle Eastern languages, was of great benefit. Tutored in Mission schools and privately in English and European languages. Curate, St. James, Gravesend (known 1881-1891).

Professional activities ^Ref: *5

• Chaplain to the Scots Fusilier Guards at Inkerman, Crimea (1854);
• acted as interpreter between a visiting Omani dignitary and representatives of Queen Victoria, (1886);
• Member of the Royal Asiatic Society

Publications ^Ref: *3

Guides to Arabic, Turkish and Modern Greek; translations from Arabic into English (notably the Apology of al-Kindi), and translations from English into Arabic the Book of Common Prayer; The Levant Interpreter: A polyglot dialogue book for English travellers in the Levant (1879); The Egyptian, Syrian, and North-African Hand-Book: A simple phrase-book in English and Arabic for the use of the British forces, civilians and residents in Egypt (1882); Manual of Colloquial Arabic (1885)

Personal details

Date of birth ^Ref: *1

1834

Place of birth ^Ref: *1

Beirut, Syria

Date of death ^Ref: *1

1920

Place of death ^Ref: *2

East Preston, Sussex

Family details ^Ref: *6

Member of an ancient Lebanese Maronite (early Christian) family, originally intended to enter the church. Married Harriet (1860); two daughters Ellen (born 1861), Minnie (born 1865). Lived in Gravesend and later in Hampstead.