18 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



In Memoriam— David Robertson, LL.D., F.L.S., RG.S. 



[Read 30th March, 1897.] 



It has often been remarked, that Scotsmen who have attained to 

 the highest places of honour, have frequently risen from the 

 humblest ranks of life. Of such men our country is justly proud, 

 for their lives exhibit what is truly best in the Scottish character. 

 In them we may trace a high ideal which has ever been the guid- 

 ing principle of action, a steadfastness of purpose which has re- 

 mained unweakened by early disappointments and failures, and a 

 spotless integrity which has never stooped to acts of dishonour. 

 To such men success may come slowly, but it is almost certain to 

 come at last, and to bear with it a crown of well-merited honours. 



Our own city can claim to have been the birth-place of not a 

 few distinguished Scotsmen, among whom the subject of the 

 present notice must ever be accorded an honourable place. The 

 story of his life, with its early struggles, privations, and hardships, 

 has been ably told by his friend, the Rev. Thomas R. R. Stebbing, 

 M.A., whose volume* contains the only authentic account of Mr. 

 Robertson's career ; and we must therefore freely acknowledge 

 our indebtedness to it for most of the information now to be 

 narrated. 



David Robertson was born at Glasgow on the 28th day of 

 November, 1806, reckoning by the " Old Style." Although the 

 *' New Style " had been introduced by Act of Parliament in 1751 , 

 the innovation had not yet become universally adopted. 



His birth-place Avas in Great Hamilton Street, which at that 

 time formed the main approach on the south from Glasgow to the 

 neisfhbourins villasre of Calton. Three weeks after the birth of 

 David his father died, leaving his wife and three children totally 

 unprovided for. Owing to the mother's industry, however, and 



* The Naturalist of Cumbrae. By the Rev. Thomas R. R. Stebbing, 

 M.A. London, 1891. 



