Hi PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



in 1860, he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine. His early pro- 

 ficiency in Botany was shown by his obtaining a gold medal for a 

 thesis on the " Development of the Seed-vessels of Ca^apl^^ce®." 

 After having obtained his degree, he abandoned the study of 

 medicine and devoted his whole time to his favourite pursuits. In 

 1862, during the illness of Professor Dickie, he acted as deputy 

 Professor of Botany in the University of Aberdeen; and in 1866 

 he received the appointment to the Chair of Botany in the 

 University of Dublin. In 1867 he obtained the additional appoint- 

 ment of Professor of Botany in the Royal College of Science for 

 Ireland. In 1868 he was appointed to the Chair of Botany in the 

 University of Glasgow, vacant through the death of Professor 

 G. A. Walker- Arnott. In 1879, on the resignation of Professor 

 J. H. Balfour, Dr. Dickson was appointed Professor of Botany in 

 the University of Edinburgh, and Regius Keeper of the Edinburgh 

 Royal Botanic Garden. These oifices he continued to hold till the 

 time of his death. 



In recognition of his eminent attainments, he received the 

 honorary degrees of M.D. from the Universit]?- of Dublin, and 

 LL.D. from the University of Glasgow. He was, besides, a 

 member of numerous scientific Societies, including the Royal 

 Society of Edinburgh, Linnean Society, and Botanical Society of 

 Edinburgh, of which last he was President. On 27th October, 

 1868, he was elected a Member of the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow. On 2<sth September, 1869, he was appointed one of the 

 Vice-Presidents of this Society, and continued to hold that office 

 till April, 1875. During that period he occasionally occupied the 

 chair, and contributed to the business of the meetings. After his 

 removal to Edinburgh he maintained an unbroken connection with 

 this Society ; and of his interest in its progress and welfare, 

 continued to the last, we have evidence before us this evening. 



As a botanist, Professor Dickson was keenly interested in 

 morphology and organography. His work bore the impress of a 

 cautious and logical mind, scrupulously exact in all details. He 

 has been described as a representative of the old French school, of 

 which Baillon is the most eminent living example. Amid the din 

 of controversy and conflicting speculations of rival theorists, he 

 maintained a calm and impartial position, only accepting as worthy 

 of consideration those views which had withstood the assaults of a 

 few years' criticism. Among the many subjects to the study of 



