Robert Charles Zaehner

Extract

Professor R. C. Zaehner, who died suddenly on 24 November 1974, was, at the time of his death, Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics in the University of Oxford and a Fellow of All Souls. He was born on 8 April 1913 of Swiss parents who had emigrated to England. He was educated at Tonbridge School and won a classical scholarship to Christ Church. After taking a second class in Classical Moderations, he transferred to Oriental Studies, specializing in Persian, and took a first class in 1936. In the years prior to the outbreak of the second World War, he continued his study of Old and Middle Persian under Professor (later Sir Harold) Bailey. As part of his war service he spent the years 1943–1947 at the British Embassy in Tehran, where his knowledge of Persian and understanding of Persia were of immense value. He made a large number of Persian friends, by whom he was regarded with enormous respect and affection. He returned to Oxford, where in 1950 he became University lecturer in Persian.