T.W. Rhys Davids has been a member of Ceylon Civil Service and spent long time in India. He was a famous Pali scholar and well-known to all who are interested in the study of Indian religions. Few writers have contributed so much to our knowledge of Buddhism. He founded Pali Text Society in 1882 and was a constant contributor to its publications. He was made a Professor of Pali and Buddhist literature at the University College, London in 1882 and in 1904 was appointed Professor of Comparative Religion at Manchester. He also acted for some time as Secretary and Librarian, the Royal Asiatic Society.