SIR DAVID GILL, 



K.C.B., LL.D., D.Sc, F.R.S., F.R.S.E. 

 {Born 12th June. ICS43. Died 2J^t}i January. 1914.) 



For the second time, within a few weeks^ the South African 

 Association mourns the loss of one of its past presidents. By the 

 death of Sir David Gill, which took place on January 24th last, 

 science has lost an astronomer of exceptional capacity and skill 

 and a powerful advocate of its claims, in all its branches, on the 

 community at large. 



David Gill was born at Aberdeen on the 12th June, 1843. ^^ 

 received his early education at the Bellevue and Dollar Academies 

 of that city, and afterwards proceeded to the Marischal College 

 and University, Aberdeen. Though destined to succeed his father 

 in business, his interests from early days lay rather in scientific 

 pursuits. The direction these interests took in later life was, as he 

 himself was fond of relating, largely inspired by Clerk Maxwell, 

 under whose influence he w-as brought during his course at the 

 Marischal College. 



i)n the completion of his University course he at first settled 

 down to a business career, but de\oted all his leisure to the con- 

 struction and use of astronomical instruments, with a view to 

 furthering the work which he had at heart. The success he 

 achieved in this manner attracted the attention of Lord Lindsay, 

 who at the time was contemplating the creation of a private obser- 

 vatory at his father's seat (Dun Echt) and led to the ofifer from 

 the Earl of Crawford that (iill w^ould take charge of this obser- 

 vatory. Recognising the opportunity that this would afford him 

 of fulfilling his desire to devote himself exclusively to science. 

 Gill resolved, at considerable pecuniary loss, to abandon his busi- 

 ness and acce]5t Lord Crawford's offer. 



The next few^ years were spent in planning and fitting out the 

 equipment of the observatorv and in making pre])arations on an 

 elaborate scale for an expedition, proposed by Lord Lindsay, to 

 Mauritius to observe the transit of \''enus in the year 1874. 



Such an event had not occurred for more than a century. Its 

 occurrence at this time served to focus the attention of astrono- 

 mers on the i:)roblem of the determination of the sun's distance 

 from the earth, and numerous costlv expeditions were fitted out to 

 places whence the phenomenon might be favourably observed with 

 a view to the determination of this important astronomical con- 

 stant with all precision attainable. 



Hie comi)arative ill success of the results secured, so far as 

 they related to their immediate purpose, led Gill to the considera- 

 tion of alternative methods Ijv which the same end might be more 

 effectively attained. Hitherto determinations of the Sun's dis- 

 tance, or what is equivalent, the scale of the Solar system had been 



