Dictionary of Indian Biography/Bigandet, Right Rev. Paul Ambrose
BIGANDET, RIGHT REV. PAUL AMBROSE (1813–1894)
Born 1813 at Besancon: educated there, and studied for two years at the Seminary of Foreign Missions, Paris: in 1837, sent by the Roman Church as missionary to Malacca: removed to Burma, and in 1856 was consecrated Bishop of Ramatha and Administrator of Pegu and Ava (soon after the annexation of Lower Burma): from 1870 was Vicar-Apostolic of Southern Burma: his residence for 50 years in that country was marked by many labours, not only that of organizing the Roman Catholic mission there, but also by his work in the promotion of native education, and the service he rendered to Buddhistic literature: he died at Rangoon, March 16, 1894: a noted Pali scholar, and the great authority on Burmese Buddhism: his most important work, the Life of Gautama, first published in 1858, went through three editions: it is based entirely on native Burmese MSS., and is one of the standard works of the 19th century: wrote also a Memoir on the Phoongis, or Religious Buddhists, 1865.