ANNALS 



OF 



PHILOSOPHY- 



NOVEMBER, 1826, 



Article I. 



Biographical Account of Alexander Wilson,^ MD, late Professor 

 of Practical Astrcmomy in Glasgow.^ By the late Patrick 

 Wilson, AM. Professor of Practical Astronomy in the Univer- 

 sity of Glasgow.f 



Alexander Wilson, MD. late Professor of Practical 

 Astronomy in Glasgow College, was a younger son of Patrick 

 Wilson, town-clerk of St. Andrew's, and was born there ia 

 1714. He was very young when his father died, and was after- 

 wards 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. 



Eefore the expiration of his academical course, his inclination 

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

 larly those branches of it which relate to Optics and Astronomy. 

 From his earhest years he discovered a strong propensity to 

 several ingenious arts, among which may be mentioned drawing, 

 modelling of figures, and engraving upon copper-plate. Even 

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

 and though in all of them he was almost entirely self-directed 

 and self-taught, yet, from time to time, he produced specimens 

 of ingenuity which drew upon him a general attention, and 

 which, by real judges, were considered as indications of uncom- 

 mon natural talents. 



* From the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, vol. x. part ii. 



f This Memoir of Dr. Wilson, after being read at the Royal Society, was withdrawn 

 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. 



N^w Series, yowsiu, y 



