Prinsep James 1799-1840 Secretary, Asiatic Society of Bengal

James Princeps (20 August 1799 – 22 April 1840) was an English scholar, orientalist and antiquary. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India. He studied, documented and illustrated many aspects of numismatics, metallurgy and meteorology while pursuing his career in India as an assay master at the mint in Benares.