Orientalist who became a master of the Arabic, Syrica, Samaritan, Ethiopic and Hebrew languages and whose purchases became the basis of the Bodleian Library’s oriental manuscript collection. Became Oxford’s first Professor of Arabic. Also wrote in 1659 a treatise on coffee. In 1637-1640 acompanied Sir Peter Wyche (q.v.) on his embassy to Constantinople. (bio by: David Conway)