MEMOIR OF EATON HODGKINSON, 



Professor of Enoineering, University College, London. 



By Robert Rawson. 



{From the Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, England 



vol. J I, third series, 180.").) 



The subject of tliis memoir was born, of respectable parents, at tlie small 

 village of Anderton, in the parish of Great Budworth, Cheshire, on the 26th of 

 Februar}', 1789 ; died at Eglesfield House, Higher Broughton, Manchester, 

 June 18, 1861, in his seventy-second year, and was interred at his native vilLage. 

 His father died when he was about six years of age, leaving his mother with three 

 chihlren, whose education and maintenance depended upon her exerticnis and 

 prudence. He left his native village, witli his mother and sister, at the age of 22, and 

 came to reside at Salford, Manchester, Avhere he remained the greater portion of 

 his after life. He was elected a member of this society in the year 18i-6, and 

 be enriched the society's memoirs with the following important papers, thus laying 

 the foundation of his reputation as a sound mathematician and an original thinker : 



" On the Transverse Strain and Strength of IVIaterials," (read March 22, 1822.) 



"On the Chain Bridge at Broughton,^" (read February 8, 1828.) 



" On the Forms of the Catenary in Suspension Bridges," (read February 8, 

 1828.) 



"A few Remarks on the Menai Bridge," (read December 12, 1828.) 



'' Theoretical and Experimental Researches to ascertain the Strength and 

 best Forms of Iron Beams," (read April 2, 1830.) 



"Appendix to the Paper on the Chain Bridge at Higher Bronghton, Man- 

 chester." 



" Some account of the late Mr. Ewart's paper on tlie Measure of Moving 

 Force, and of the recent applications of the Principle of Living Forces to esti- 

 mate the effects of Jlachines and Movers," (read April 30, 1844.) 



He occupied in succession the distinguished positions of vice-president and 

 president of this society. He was a leading member of the British Association 

 for the Advancement of Science iVom its commencement, and contributed greatly 

 to the interest and efhciency of the mathematical and mecdianical sections. Ho 

 also gave active help to the association in several valuable reports on pure and 

 mixed science. These re})orts, which have in a great degree assisted in main- 

 taining the high scientific renown of the association, an^ as follows: 



Third report, 1833: "On the Etiect of Impact on Beams." "On the direct 

 Tensile Strength of Cast Iron." 



Fourth report, 1835: "On the Collision of Imperfectly Elastic Bodies." 



Fifth report, 183.5: "Impact ui)on Beams." 



He held the distinguished position of vic(!-president of the association in tho 

 year 1861. 



In the year 1841 ho was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and contrib- 

 uted to its transactions t\v(j elaborate pajjcrs : 



"Experimental Researches on the Strength of PiUars of Cast Iron and other 

 materials," (read. May 14, 1840.) 



The aim of this paper was greatly extended in the second comnmnication : 



"Experimental Researches on the Strength of Pillars of Cast Iron from various 

 parts of the kingdom," (read June, 1857.) 



