Henry Steel Olcott

Henry Steel Olcott, (1832-1907), founder and first president of the Theosophical Society, most well known as the first person of western descent to make a formal conversion to Buddhism. His subsequent actions as president of the Theosophical Society helped Buddhism into a new renaissance. He is still honored in Sri Lanka for these efforts.

see also: Theosophical Society Buddhism H.P. Blavatsky Theosophy