Henry Thomas Colebrooke (1765-1837), English orientalist, philosopher and astronomer. After studying classics and mathematics, Colebrooke went to India to work as a writer at the age of 17. He studied Sanskrit, translating several legal and philosophical works into English. He retained his interest in science, and upon his return to Britain served as president of the newly established Royal Astronomical Society in 1823-4, and presented papers to the Royal Society.