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THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE QUEKETT MICRO- 

 SCOPICAL CLUB. 



By R. T. Lewis, F.RM.S. 



The Quekett Microscopical Club this year attains its Jubilee, 

 and, as no doubt many of its present members are unacquainted 

 with its early history, it has been thought that some account of 

 this would be of interest. 



Hardwicke's Science Gossip was started in January 1865, and 

 in the May number of that periodical a letter appeared from 

 Mr. W. Gibson, suggesting that a Society for Amateur Micro- 

 scopists on similar lines to those of the Society of Amateur 

 Botanists (of which he was a member) would be desirable, as 

 being a means of bringing together those having similar tastes, 

 who could meet to discuss difficulties and assist one another in a 

 manner not provided for by the existing Society. Monthly meet- 

 ings and a small subscription were proposed, and persons interested 

 in the matter were invited to co-operate. The Editor of Science 

 Gossip gladly inserted this communication, and, being himself the 

 President of the Society of Amateur Botanists at the time,, 

 entered fully into the project, and together with Mr. W. M 

 Bywater and Thomas Ketteringham met at the house of the 

 former in Hanover Square, and having discussed its feasibility, 

 decided that such a society should be established, and should be 

 named " The Quekett Club " after the name of the distinguished 

 Professor of Histology * who had died :a short time previously, 



* John Thomas Quekett, b. 1815. In 1856 he succeeded Prof. Owen as 

 Conservator of the Hunterian Museum, and was appointed Professor of 

 Histology, which post he held until his death. He was elected F.R.S. in 

 1860, and died in 1861. He was Secretary of the Microscopical Society of 

 London for nineteen years. His Practical Treatise on the Use of the Micro- 

 scope is, or was, well known. 



Journ. Q. M. C, Series II. No 76. 30 



