* 



( 279 ) 



- 

 Biographical Account of ALEXANDER WILSON, M. D. fate 



Professor of Practical Astronomy in Glasgow. By the 

 late PATRICK WILSON, A. M. Professor of Practical Astro- 

 nomy in the University of Glasgow 



(Read February 2. 1189.) 



ALEXANDER WILSON, M. D., late Professor of Practical Astro- 

 nomy in Glasgow College, was a younger son of PATRICK WIL- 

 SON, town-clerk of St Andrew's, and was born there in 1714. He 

 was very young when his father died, and was afterwards brought 

 up by the care of his mother, CLARA FAIRFOUL;, a person much 

 respected for her prudence, virtue, and piety. 



Having received the usual education at the different schools, 

 he entered to the College of St Andrew's, where he made great 

 proficiency in literature and the sciences, and, after completing a 

 regular course of studies, was admitted to the degree of Master 

 of Arts in his 19th year. 



Before the expiration of his academical course, his inclina- 

 tion led him to prefer the study of Natural Philosophy, and par- 

 ticularly those branches of it which relate to Optics and Astro- 

 nomy. From his earliest years he discovered a strong propensity 

 to several ingenious arts, among which may be mentioned draw- 

 ing, modelling of figures, and engraving upon copperplate. Even 

 when a boy, he often devoted his leisure to such employments, 



* This Memoir of Dr WILSON, after being read at the Royal Society, was with- 

 drawn by its author, for the purpose of making some alterations upon it ; and was 

 never returned for publication. It was found, however, among the papers of Mr 

 PATRICK WILSON, and is now printed with the consent of his family. 

 VOL. X. P. II. N n 



