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Henry Alexander Ormsby served in the Indian Navy. According to Charles Rathbone Low in his "A History of the Indian Navy (1613-1863)", Ormsby absconded from the Navy at the age of 19, between 1826-1830 and for three years went to live with some Arabs in their tents. For this he was struck off the navy list but because of his services to geographical science and surveying he was reinstated and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. In 1839 his vessel made the quickest passage from Bombay to Suez yet recorded. He served in the China war, 1840-1842. He married Anne Jane Lye in 1843. He retired from the navy in 1848. The National Archives hold a copy of his will dating to 1857.

Henry Thomas Colebrooke FRS FRSE (1765-1837) was a Sanskrit scholar and orientalist. He was born in London, the third son of Sir George Colebrooke, 2nd Baronet, Chairman of the East India Company, and Mary Gaynor of Antigua. He was educated at home and at fifteen was adept in classics and mathematics.

In 1782 Colebrooke was appointed to a writership in India. He held administrative, legal and academic posts whilst in India during which time he learnt Sanskrit which he used to translate "Digest of Hindu Laws", unfinished by Sir William Jones.

Colebrooke returned to England in 1814 where he played an active role in promoting knowledge. He was co-founder of the Royal Astronomical Society. He was present at the inaugural dinner and meeting on January 12, 1820. More significantly for the Royal Asiatic Society, he instigated its foundation, with the initial planning meetings taking place at his home. He presided as Director of the Society until his death in 1837.