The biography of Stephen Hales, D.D., F.R.S / [Percy M. Dawson].

  • Dawson, Percy M. (Percy Millard), 1873-
Date:
[1904]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The biography of Stephen Hales, D.D., F.R.S / [Percy M. Dawson]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [185] teenth year he was sent to Cambridge and was entered a pen¬ sioner of Corpus Christi College under tfie tuition of Mr. Moss, the future dean of Ely. Having taken the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he was pre-elected into a fellowship into which he was admitted in the following year. In the samft year (1703) he obtained his degree of Master of Arts. Some time afterwards he entered into orders and became a Bachelor of Divinity in 1711. During his residence in the college, a period of about twelve years (1696-1708 or 1709), he applied himself with great zeal to the study of natural and experi¬ mental philosophy. [186] In William Stukeley,2 * * * * * afterwards M. D., F. K. S., who came in 1704 to live in Corpus Christi College, Hales seems to have found a very congenial companion, though Stukeley was the younger by ten years. Together the two used to ramble over Gogmagog Hills and the bogs of Cherry-Hunt-Moor to gather simples. One carried in his pocket Bay’s Catalogue of Plants, to which Stukeley, who was a ready draughtsman, added a map of the country to guide them in their walks. Sometimes they collected fossils from the gravel and chalk pits and some¬ times hunted butterflies, having contrived an instrument for taking them. The two friends also studied anatomy together, dissecting frogs, dogs and other animals; while Hales devised an ingenious method of obtaining a preparation of the lungs in lead. They moreover studied chemistry and “ repeated many of Mr. Boyle’s experiments ” and prepared various sub¬ stances, “ some of use, some of curiosity.” At this time Yigani,8 of Verona, the first professor of chem- 2 William Stukeley, 1687-1765. In his undergraduate days he “ went,” he says, “ frequently asimpling, and began to steal dogs and dissect them ” and once when at home, he “ made a handsome sceleton ” of an aged cat. Hales and Dr. J. Gray of Canterbury, were his botanical associates and he made large additions to Ray’s Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantdbrigiam.—D. N. B. •John Francis Vigani, 16507-1712, born in Verona; probably came to England about 1682, to Cambridge about 1683, where he gave private lessons in chemistry and pharmacy. In 1703 a grace was passed by the senate for “ investing with the title of professor of chemistry John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, who has taught chemistry with reputation for twenty years previously.”— D. N. B.