X OBITXJAUY NOTICE OF DR. ROBERT PATTERSON, 



and hospitality. One of them indeed went so far as to offer him the loan of a 

 sum of money sufficient to establish him in mercantile business. Though he 

 did not accept this offer, having determined to make the business of teaching 

 the main object of his life, yet he remembered it to his last moment with 

 unceasing gratitude. 



After spending a week in Philadelphia, he set out on foot for Bucks County, 

 for the purpose of seeking employment as a schoolmaster. In this he was 

 successful. He was immediately engaged in his favourite pursuit. His first 

 school was in Buckingham, and one of his first scholars Andrew Eliicott, 

 afterwards celebrated for his mathematical knowledge displayed in the service 

 of the United States. In no part of the world is more respect paid to that 

 truly respectable character, the instructor of youth, than in the United States. 

 Instances are frequent, where those who have commenced their career as 

 schoolmasters have risen to the highest honours of the State. This is a sound 

 feeling, and as long as it prevails there will be no danger of want of education. 



The regular publication of the Nautical Almanac, established by Dr. Mas- 

 kclyne about tlie time when Patterson taught in Buckingham, turned the atten- 

 tion of the principal navigators in the American ports to the calculations of 

 the longitude from lunar observations, in which they were eager to obtain 

 instruction. Availing himself of this desire, he removed to Philadelphia, where 

 he soon had for his scholars the most distinguished commanders who sailed 

 IVom this port. 



In the 3ear lT7i, the parents of Br. Patterson, two of his brothers, and two 

 sisters, attracted no doubt by his success and the encouraging accounts re- 

 ceived from him, came to this country. One of his brothers, a presbyterian 

 clergyman, is still living, at Pittsburg, and one of his sisters, a widow lady, in 

 Philadelphia. In the year 177i2, having accumulated the sum of five or six 

 hundred pounds, he was persuaded by a friend whom he consulted, to invest 

 it in merchandise, and open a country store in New Jersey. But never was 

 there a man less fitted for this business. His books indeed were kept with 

 mathematical correctness ; but to the drudgery of a retail salesman he was 

 unequal. Every customer seemed an intruder who detained him from his 

 studies. He was soon sensible that nature never designed him for a store 

 keeper. He seized therefore the first opportunity of closing his mercantile 

 concern, and resuming his former avocation. This he was enabled to do to 

 advantage, being appointed Principal of the Academy at Wilmington, in the 

 State of Delaware, about the beginning of the year 1774. On the 9th of May, 

 in the same year, he was married to Ame Ewing, daughter of Maskell Evving, 

 Esq. of Greenwich, Cumberland County, New Jersey. With this lady, who 

 has now the misfortune of lamenting his death, he lived in the most affectionate 

 union for upwards of fifty years. They had eight children, two of whom died 

 in infancy. His son Robert, with hereditary talents improved by liberal edu- 

 cation, succeeded his father in the office of Vice-Provost of the University of 

 Pennsylvania some years before his death, and fills his place with great repu- 

 tation. About the time that Dr. Patterson took charge of the Academy at 

 Wilmington, the differences between Great Britain and her colonies were 

 hastening to a crisis. The First Congress, assembled at Philadelphia in the 

 autumn of the year 1774, gave intimations to the people that it would be pru- 

 dent fo prepare for the event; and immediately after the battle of Lexington 

 in April, 177.5, the whole country by an unanimous impulse formed itself into 

 associations for tiie purpose of learning the military exercise. i?o ignorant 



