I^ MEMORIAM — PROFESSOR THOMAS KING. 7 



and instruction in laboratory work at South Kensington. In the 

 same year he obtained the certificate of the Department of Science 

 and Art as a teacher of Botany. 



In 1889 he was elected Professor of Botany in Anderson's 

 College Medical School, and in the following year was appointed 

 Professor of that science in the Glasgow Veterinary College. 

 Besides the various lectureships mentioned, which he continued 

 to hold at the time of his death, he had various engagements in 

 schools and educational iustitutions throughout the city and its 

 suburbs. 



As a teacher, his lectures were always fresh and interesting, 

 and distinguished by simplicity and clearness of language, as well 

 as by an earnestness of purpose which showed that his w^ork was 

 indeed a labour of love. To listen to him was to feel that he was 

 not merely an accomplished student, but a true lover of nature 

 whose heart responded to all that was pure and beautiful in the 

 world around him. Whether in the class-room or at the excur- 

 sions which he frequently made with his students, his aim was 

 not only to impart information but to awaken a real interest in 

 those objects and pursuits which were the joy of his own life. 

 Many of his students have acquired honourable distinction; while 

 not a few members of our own Society, and others who take a 

 prominent place amongst us as naturalists, owe much of their 

 enthusiasm to his teaching and influence. But his success as a 

 teacher was also largely due to his personal character; to the 

 gentleness and courtesy of his bearing, which never failed to 

 inspire confidence and respect ; and to his kindly interest in his 

 pupils, which led each of them to regard him as a friend. 



But his sympathies extended over a much wider range than the 

 sphere of his professional labours. He derived much pleasure 

 from friendly association with others of like tastes, and took an 

 interest in the work of local scientific societies, of most of which 

 he was an active and esteemed member and ofiice-bearer. 



On 16th* April, 1874, he was admitted a member of the 

 Geological Society of Glasgow, while in 1878 he was elected a 

 member of Council for three years, and was re-elected for a similar 

 term in 1895. In 1877 and 1883, papers relating to the Geology 

 of the desert region of Atacama, North Chile, were read by him 

 to the Society. Although frequently at the meetings, he did not 



