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Wheu a mail has made himself a beneFactor of the human family 

 by devotiuj; his life and a large furtune to the promotion of science, 

 gratitude demands that we perpetuate his memory, and uphold his 

 example for the advancement of those sciences for which he lived. 

 Therefore we form this memoir to commemorate the life and character 

 of (»ur late associate Thomas Bellerby Wilson. His father was 

 Edward Wilson, and his mother was Elizabeth Bellerby, both born in 

 England, but they came to America previous to 1800, and were mar- 

 ried in 1802. They settled in Philadelphia, where their third child. 

 Thomas, was born January 17th, 1807. 



As every fact in the life of such a man is invested with a charm and 

 an enduring interest, his schoolboy days should here be mentioned. 

 During the years 1818 and 1819 he attended a Friends' School, on 

 the east .side of Fourth street, below Chestnut, taught b}^ Thomas 

 Dugdale, where, among other things, he studied Latin. In 1820 his 

 father made the voyage to England, and he took Thomas along and 

 placed him at a school in Darlington. Durham County, in the north of 

 England. He remained in this school the most of his time during 

 two years — a period sufficiently long, at his age, to receive very many 

 and vivid impressions of the land of his forefathers. These he must 

 have recalled often during the remaining portion of his life, and they 

 doubtless aided in attracting him so frequently across the Atlantic. 



He returned to America in the spring of 1822, being then in his 

 sixteenth year. His di.sjposition to engage in practical scientific pur- 

 ^>uits now begins to shape the course of his life. Instead of again en- 

 tering school on his returning to his native city, he became an appren- 

 tice to the study and practice of Pharmacy in the establishment of 

 the late 3Ir. Frederick Brown in Chestnut street, on the north-ea.st 

 corner of Fifth street. Althoutih he wa.s the son of a gentleman of 

 fortune, and had anticipations of an ample pecuniary inheritance, yet 

 we behold him in this unpretending employment sober, industrious, 

 persevering and contented. His happiness was complete, for he had 



