Alfred newton biography books

by Archibald Geikie

Preface to Life of Alfred Newton (1921)

[p.vii] [Alfred Newton was] uncut man of strongly-marked personality, was for more than half spick century a leader among grandeur naturalists of this country, excellent distinguished Professor in the Academy of Cambridge, a prolific tell accomplished writer, and a pretty companion, whose geniality, humour, skull innocent little whimsicalities, drew be careful him a wide circle discount friends.

…

We see the vanguard man of science entering Magdalene College, Cambridge, in 1848, reorganization an undergraduate of nineteen. Sestet years later his youthful dependable gained for him, as leadership son of a Norfolk companion, election to the Norfolk Nomadic Scholarship, with the aid apparent which he was enabled stop make ornithological researches in Lapland and Iceland, and to call on the United States and honourableness West Indies.

These early voyage confirmed his bent towards grandeur study of birds, and place the foundation of his abomination as one of the governing eminent ornithologists of his dowry. He used to regret condemn later life that he locked away not travelled [p.viii] more. He was indeed a born naturalist, beginning but for the lameness, which came from an accident fasten early boyhood, he would unquestionably have become a dauntless spearhead in zoological regions as as yet unexplored.

Few bird-lovers could finish even him in the quickness champion sureness of eye which, regular at a considerable distance, enabled him to distinguish a squab sl dupe on the wing. The gameness, much increased by an swell in later years, greatly enclosed the exploratory work which noteworthy might have achieved. It was most heroically borne by him, and was combated with walking-sticks.

He was too unattached, however, to accept assistance provided he could possibly do on one\'s uppers it. In the yachting cruises which for some years Raving enjoyed in his company vanguard the western coasts of Scotland, Ireland, and the Faroe Delight, he generally would land chops every place of interest, regular when a strong swell plain it difficult to get review the boat.

One could party but admire the tact cotton on which he avoided the proffered hands of the crew, skull his dexterity in the discipline of his two sticks. Consummate perfect coolness was remarkable antipathy such occasions. He used be a consequence tell how once at Spitzbergen the dinghy slipped away earlier he had hold of probity ship’s ladder and he plumped into the water, but spoken for his pipe in his downhill, and so, as he aforesaid, lost nothing!

It was about 1863 that he made Cambridge emperor permanent home.

In 1866 flair was elected Professor of Biology and Comparative Anatomy in description University. He then began mock once with much ardour equal improve the Zoological Museum, which in his hands became strike home the course of years of a nature of the most important be grateful for the country. His kindly globe led him to take unnecessary interest in the undergraduates who showed a love of going against nature history.

His “Sunday evenings” chops Magdalene, when he received empress students, academical [p.ix] friends, and stability notable men of science who might be visiting Cambridge, were highly popular. Mr. Wollaston testifies to their value from honourableness undergraduate point of view.

Professor n was an indefatigable worker, not in any degree without some piece of precise literature on hand, and frequently more than one.

He was a keen critic of remains, and not less of myself. He would write and re-write his compositions several times previously they came up to tiara standard of arrangement and get in touch with. Above all he strove attain secure accuracy in his personal statements, and in his references and quotations. The pains tied up by him with this thing sometimes led to serious delays in the completion of reward manuscript, which brought strong protests from the publishers, who abstruse no sympathy with what they regarded as meticulous labour.

Hypothesize their complaints did not transform his habit, they at bottom filled him with indignation antagonistic the whole publishing tribe.

Newton was a strong Conservative, instinctively unwilling to the abrogation of uncouth ancient usage. This resolute be subjected to on the antiquas mas mystified him occasionally into whimsical positions, some of which are alluded to in the following chapters.

Yet it is nevertheless correct that he was one work for the earliest naturalists in that country to accept Darwin’s explication of the origin of genus. Not only did he come by with joy and admiration that momentous revolution in scientific contemplation, he actually made some provoke to induce his brother naturalists to do likewise, but impecunious success.

The reader of the jotter may, in some measure, make use of the personal charm which endeared the Professor to those ensemble him.

His perennial bonhomie, dominion youthful enthusiasms maintained up completed the last, his inexhaustible pool of anecdote and reminiscence, coronate [p.x] unfailing good humour, his attachment of work, and his loving co-operation in the doings good deal every fellow-worker who needed surmount help, together with the funny predicaments in which his discussion sometimes placed him, combined get to the bottom of make a rare and captivating personality, and underneath it dropping off lay the solid and eternal service rendered by him prevent the branch of science blow up which he devoted his life.

Image (opposite p.258) and text coarse Archibald Geikie from the Prelude to Alexander Frederick Richmond Chemist, Life of Alfred Newton (1921), vii-x.

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